INTERACTION OF PENICILLIN-G WITH THE HUMAN ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE AND MODELS

Penicillin G (PEN) is a widely used antibiotic whose mechanism of acti on is related to the interference with the synthesis of bacteria cell wall. In order to evaluate its perturbing effect upon human cell membr anes PEN was made to interact with human erythrocytes, isolated reseal ed human erythrocyte membranes and molecular models. Thr latter were m ultibilayers of the phospholipids dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC ) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) as well as DMPC large unilamellar vesicles. These studies were performed by scanning electr on microscopy: fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods . The observed results coincide in that PEN did not exert any signific ant effect upon the structures of the red cell membrane neither on its molecular models. This is in agreement with its reported lack of majo r toxicity and hematological reactions.