These antibiotics are protein synthesis inhibitors that bind to the 30S prokaryotic ribosomal subunit in the mRNA translation complex. By doing so, these drugs prevent the binding aminoacyl tRNA to the mRNA ribosome complex. The role of aminoacyl tRNA is to deliver the amino acid to the ribosome where it will be incorporated into the polypeptide chain that is being produced. Therefore, if the binding of aminoacyl tRNA subunit is inhibited, protein synthesis will be affected.
Most tetracyclines are water soluble and demonstrate limited CNS penetration. Drugs that are most lipid soluble like minocycline have higher CNS penetration.
Orally administered tetracyclines may chelate divalent cations like Ca2, Mg2, and Fe2, and impair absorption. Therefore, oral administration of these drugs should be separated from the consumption of foods or supplements with high amounts of divalent cations like milk, antacids, or iron by at least one or two hours.
Orally administered tetracyclines may chelate divalent cations like Ca2 , Mg2 , and Fe2 , and impair absorption. Therefore, oral administration of these drugs should be separated from the consumption of foods or supplements with high amounts of divalent cations like milk, antacids, or iron by at least one or two hours.
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