Abstract
Ethambutol (EMB), the first line drug in the treatment of tuberculosis, is an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of the cell wall compound - arabinogalactan. It was found that EMB at sub-inhibitory concentration increases the permeability of the M. vaccae cell wall, which was monitored by cell sensitization to erythromycin and rifampicin. The high permeability of the cell wall to hydrophobic compounds allows enhanced intracellular bioconversion of beta-sitosterol to 4-androsten-3,17-dione (AD) and 1,4-androstadien-3,17-dione (ADD).
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
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Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology*
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Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects*
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Cell Wall / chemistry
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Cell Wall / drug effects*
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Erythromycin / pharmacology
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Ethambutol / pharmacology*
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Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Mycobacterium / drug effects*
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Rifampin / pharmacology
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Sitosterols / metabolism
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Antitubercular Agents
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Sitosterols
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Erythromycin
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Ethambutol
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Rifampin