Vancomycin hydrochloride (extracted from Streptomyces orientalis) (CAS 1404-93-9)

Vancomycin hydrochloride, assigned the CAS number 1404-93-9, is a glycopeptide compound structurally distinguished by complex molecular arrangements that facilitate its interaction with bacterial cell walls. Specifically, it binds with high affinity to the D-alanyl-D-alanine termini of cell wall precursor units, a critical component in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. By doing so, vancomycin hydrochloride inhibits the transpeptidation and transglycosylation steps necessary for cross-linking peptidoglycan chains, effectively preventing the proper formation of the bacterial cell wall. This action leads to cell lysis and the eventual death of the bacteria, as the cell wall is essential for bacterial integrity and survival under osmotic pressures. In research environments, vancomycin hydrochloride is extensively utilized to study mechanisms of bacterial resistance, particularly in Gram-positive bacteria. It serves as a pivotal agent in examining the genetics and biochemistry of resistance pathways, including the alteration of target sites that reduce the binding efficacy of glycopeptides. Furthermore, this compound is used in ecological and environmental microbiology to assess the impact of antibacterial agents on microbial communities and to explore strategies for preventing the spread of resistance. Investigations involving vancomycin hydrochloride are crucial for advancing our understanding of microbial resistance mechanisms and for developing novel approaches to circumvent or mitigate such resistance in pathogenic bacteria.