Description
Ethambutol is an antitubercular antibiotic effective against Mycobacterium species, especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It has been used to study multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and in combination with other drugs to decrease the risk of developing additional multidrug resistant species.
The mechanism of action of ethambutol starts with inactivation of arabinosyl transferase, an enzyme required to transport mycolic acids to the cell wall. Upon inactivation of this enzyme, cell wall permeability increases allowing toxic substances to enter the cell.
Antibiotics are often used in clinical in vitro tests known as antimicrobial susceptibility tests or ASTs to determine their efficacy against certain bacterial species. They are tested against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria using panels, discs, and MIC strips by medical microbiologists. ASTs decrease the risk of using an antibiotic against bacteria exhibiting resistance to it, and the results are used in clinical settings to determine which antibiotic(s) to prescribe for various infections.
Product Specifications
Ethambutol
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY GRADE
Formula: C10H24N2O2
MW: 204.31 g/mol
Storage/Handling: Store at 2-8°C.
PubChem Chemical ID: 14052
