PRODUCT Properties
| Melting point: | 185 °C (decomp) |
| Boiling point: | 583.1±50.0 °C(Predicted) |
| alpha | D25 -20° (water) |
| Density | 1.43±0.1 g/cm3(Predicted) |
| pka | pKa1 6.95, pKa2 8.70(at 25℃) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Spectinomycin (1695-77-8) |
Description and Uses
An unusual aminoglycoside antibiotic, spectinomycin is produced by fermentation of Streptomyces spectabil is and differs substantially in its clinical properties from the others. The diaminoinositol unit (spectinamine) contains two mono-N-methyl groups, and the hydroxyl between them has a stereochemistry opposite to that in streptomycin. The glycosidically attached sugar also is unusual in that it contains three consecutive carbonyl groups, either overt or masked, and is fused by two adjacent linkages to spectinamine to produce an unusual, fused, three-ring structure.
Analogous to streptomycin, spectinomycin binds with ribosomal 30 S subunits of microorganisms and inhibits protein synthesis; however, incorrect reading of the genetic code does
not take place. Despite the broad spectrum of activity, spectinomycin is used only for
gonococci infections. Other Gram-negative bacteria begin to display resistance during
treatment. It is effective with respect to most strains of gonococci, as well as a number of
other Gram-negative microorganisms.
It is used for treating severe gonorrheal urethritis and proctitis in men, and severe gonorrheal proctitis in women, which is caused by strains of gonococci that are sensitive to the
drug. Synonyms of this drug are actinospectocin, spectam, togamicin, and others.
