Gentamicin (also known as Garamycin) is an antibiotic that can be used to treat various bacterial infections by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Gentamicin can bind on bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit protein and 16S rRNA irreversibly to inhibit the formation of mRNA. Since the binding site of gentamicin is the region that interacts with wobble base of anticodon of tRNA, hence, binding will cause misreading of mRNA, which lead to incorrect insertion of amino acids to polypeptide so that the polypeptide is non-functional or toxic. This prevents the bacterial protein synthesis which prevent the growth of the bacteria. Gentamicin is a class of aminoglycosides. Aminoglycosides can effectively against aerobic, Gram-negative bacteria, but it is ineffective against anaerobic bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Gentamicin Pathway References