Biochem/physiol Actions
Tobramycin sulfate is an aminoglycoside. Mode of Action: Binds to 70S ribosomal subunit; inhibits translocation; elicits miscoding. Spectrum of Activity: Gram negative bacteria. Not effective against Enterococci.
Tobramycin binds irreversibly to one of two aminoglycoside binding sites on the 30 S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Tobramycin may also destabilize bacterial membranes by binding to 16 S r-RNA. It inhibits translocation and elicits miscoding. Tobramycin binds to an RNA aptamer, which is structurally similar to the A site of 16S rRNA2.
Application
Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside, broad-spectrum antibiotic produced by Streptomyces tenebrarius. It is effective against gram-negative bacteria, especially the pseudomonas species. It is not effective against Enterococci. It is used to inhibit bacterial protein synthesis at the level of 30S (16S rRNA) and 70S ribosomal complex assembly. It is used to treat pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections and is used in combination with other antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections, gynecologic infections, peritonitis, endocarditis, pneumonia, sepsis, respiratory infections, osteomyelitis and other soft-tissue infections. It is a potential therapy for sinus infections1. Product T1783 has been used to study antibiotic resistance2.