Molecular modelling of membrane activity of amphotericin B, a polyene macrolide antifungal antibiotic

Acta Biochim Pol. 2005;52(3):655-8. Epub 2005 Aug 5.

Abstract

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a well known polyene macrolide antibiotic used to treat systemic fungal infections. Despite its toxicity AmB is still regarded as a life-saving drug. The lack of adequate knowledge of the AmB mechanism of action is a serious obstacle to efficient development of new less toxic derivatives. Complementary to various experimental approaches, computational chemistry methods were used to study AmB mechanism of action. A programme lasting for a decade, that was run by our group covered studies of: i) molecular properties of AmB and its membrane targets, ii) structure and properties of AmB membrane channels, and iii) interaction of AmB with the membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Amphotericin B / chemistry
  • Amphotericin B / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Models, Molecular
  • Polyenes / chemistry*
  • Polyenes / metabolism

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Polyenes
  • Amphotericin B