Tigecycline (CAS 220620-09-7)

Tigecycline is a synthetic derivative of minocycline, part of a broader class of compounds known as glycylcyclines. It was engineered to overcome specific resistance mechanisms that have rendered other compounds less effective. Structurally, tigecycline possesses a 9-t-butylglycylamido substituent on the D-ring of the tetracycline core, which significantly enhances its activity against a wide range of bacteria by circumventing common resistance pathways. In research contexts, tigecycline has been extensively studied for its unique ability to bind to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit. This binding impedes the attachment of aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosomal A site, which is critical for the initiation and continuation of protein synthesis. What sets tigecycline apart is its exceptionally high affinity for the ribosome, combined with its ability to evade efflux pumps and protect itself from enzymatic degradation, mechanisms often responsible for bacterial resistance. Further scientific studies have focused on the molecular dynamics and structural interactions of tigecycline with the ribosome.