title: Selective membrane toxicity of the polyene antibiotics: studies on natural membranes.
abstract: The effect of polyene antibiotics on Candida albicans, human erythrocytes, and Acholeplasma laidlawii was studied. The results sustain the observations made with lecithin-sterol liposomes. The distribution of double bonds in the membrane sterol nucleus appears to be of major importance in conferring polyene susceptibility; those sterols with the ergosterol nucleus are far more effective than those with a nucleus similar to cholesterol. Different polyenes vary in their membrane selectivity. The clinical implications of these observations are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000128:Acholeplasma laidlawii / Q000187:drug effects; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000633:toxicity; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000633:toxicity; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D007783:Lactones / Q000633:toxicity; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009761:Nystatin / Q000633:toxicity; D011090:Polyenes / Q000633:toxicity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D007783:Lactones; D011090:Polyenes; D009761:Nystatin; D000666:Amphotericin B; D002784:Cholesterol; D004875:Ergosterol