Sulfacetamide sodium salt (CAS 6209-17-2)

Sulfacetamide sodium salt, identified by the CAS number 6209-17-2, is a sodium salt form of sulfacetamide, a sulfonamide compound. It functions by inhibiting the bacterial enzyme dihydropteroate synthase, which is crucial in the synthesis of folic acid, a vital component for bacterial growth and replication. By blocking this enzyme, sulfacetamide sodium salt impedes the production of dihydrofolic acid, thus preventing bacterial cells from synthesizing their own folic acid, which is essential for their proliferation and survival. This mechanism highlights its role in the inhibition of bacterial growth through interference with their metabolic processes. In research contexts, sulfacetamide sodium salt is utilized to explore bacterial resistance mechanisms to sulfonamides, offering insights into how bacteria modify their enzymatic pathways to evade such inhibitory effects. Additionally, it serves as a tool in studies aimed at understanding the broader metabolic pathways involved in bacterial folic acid synthesis and the potential impact of metabolic disruption on bacterial viability. These investigations are crucial for advancing knowledge in microbiology and biochemistry, particularly in the study of antibacterial resistance and the design of effective strategies to combat bacterial infections without relying on traditional antibacterial approaches.