The Sound of Evolution
Enoxacin
Mechanism of action:
Enoxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and belongs to the second-generation quinolone derivatives. Its antibacterial activity primarily targets bacterial DNA gyrase, which is bacterial topoisomerase II. DNA gyrase is responsible for relieving the supercoiled structure generated during bacterial DNA replication. When enoxacin binds to the DNA-enzyme complex, it prevents the re-ligation of cleaved DNA, thereby halting DNA replication. In addition, enoxacin also inhibits bacterial topoisomerase IV, an enzyme responsible for separating daughter DNA molecules during bacterial cell division. Once this enzyme is inhibited, bacteria cannot complete cell division properly.
Reference(s):
1. Yoshida H et al. (1993). Mechanism of action of quinolones against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.
2. Weisser J et al. (1986). Elimination of plasmids by enoxacin and ofloxacin at near inhibitory concentrations. J Antimicrob Chemother.