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The Sound of Evolution
Dapsone
Mechanism of action:
Dapsone is an antibiotic and a sulfone derivative. Dapsone inhibits dihydropteroate synthase, blocking the condensation of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and pteridine to form dihydropteroic acid, which is a key step in folic acid synthesis. This disrupts bacterial folate synthesis and subsequently impairs the production of nucleotides such as thymidine as well as DNA/RNA synthesis.
Reference(s):
1. Gillis TP et al. (1999). Dapsone resistance does not appear to be associated with a mutation in the dihydropteroate synthase-2 gene of Mycobacterium leprae. Indian J Lepr.
2. Williams DL et al. (2000). Dihydropteroate synthase of Mycobacterium leprae and dapsone resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.
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