Molecule

P0106 

Application
Pefloxacin is a synthetic broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is effective against most gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. It is used to treat gonococcal urethritis and for gram-negative-bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal system and the genitourinary tract. Pefloxacin mesylate dihydrate has been used to induce achilles tendon toxicity in rodents1. It′s cytotoxicity and uptake has been studied in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes2.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Pefloxacin inhibits the bacterial enzymes DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which are needed for the transcription and replication of bacterial DNA. DNA gyrase is thought to be the primary quinolone target for gram-negative bacteria. Topoisomerase IV is thought to be the primary target in gram-positive organisms. The inhibition of the topoisomerases results in strand breakage of the bacterial chromosome, supercoiling, and resealing. Therefore, DNA replication and transcription is inhibited . Pefloxacin is an analog of norfloxacin.