Spectinomycin dihydrochloride pentahydrate

Spectinomycin dihydrochloride pentahydrate is an aminocylcitol antibiotic which is closely related to the aminoglycosides. Gram-positive and gram-negative Gonococcus spp. are reported to exhibit susceptibility to spectinomycin. Studies indicate that spectinomycin interferes with peptidyl tRNA translocation, thereby affecting protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria. Additional reports note that mutations in ribosomal proteins may prevent the binding of spectinomycin, thus potentially confering resistence to the compound. Additionally, Eschericia coli is reported to be reversibly inhibited during growth and division by spectinomycin and that variations in bacterial sensitivity may be mediated by differences in ribosomes among different E. coli mutants.