Bacitracin is a cyclic polypeptide antibiotic used to prevent wound infections, treat pneumonia and empyema in infants, and to treat skin and eye infections. Bacitracin is a combination of at least 9 bacitracins.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 3 references
Bacitracin binds to a divalent metal ion such as Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), or Zn(II). These complexes bind C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate, preventing the hydrolysis of a lipid dolichol pyrophosphate, which finally inhibits cell wall synthesis. Bacitracin metal complexes also bind and oxidatively cleave DNA.
- Primary indication
- Bacitracin is indicated in topical formulations for acute and chronic localized skin infections.Curator reviewed · 13 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C66H103N17O16S · 1422.693 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1996 · United States, 1948
- Also known as
- Bacitracin A
- Code names
- NSC-45737
- Brand names
Resolves to
Clinical / RWD
Structure
InChIKey
CLKOFPXJLQSYAH-ABRJDSQDSA-NSMILESCC[C@H](C)[C@H](N)C1=N[C@@H](CS1)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@H](CCC(O)=O)C(=O)N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)CC)C(=O)N[C@H]1CCCCNC(=O)[C@H](CC(N)=O)NC(=O)[C@@H](CC(O)=O)NC(=O)[C@H](CC2=CNC=N2)NC(=O)[C@@H](CC2=CC=CC=C2)NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](CCCN)NC1=O)[C@@H](C)CCTransporters
What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
3Protein targetsEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological actionListed above
3TransportersSubstrate / inhibitor direction, not just membershipListed above
Which drugs share a target with Bacitracin, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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