Which antimicrobial agent interferes with DNA gyrase?

Fluoroquinolones are a class of antimicrobial agents that specifically target and inhibit DNA gyrase, which is a crucial enzyme involved in the replication of bacterial DNA. DNA gyrase introduces negative supercoils into DNA, allowing it to unwind and become more accessible for replication and transcription. By inhibiting this enzyme, fluoroquinolones effectively prevent bacterial cell division and lead to the accumulation of DNA damage, ultimately resulting in bacterial cell death.

This mechanism of action distinguishes fluoroquinolones from other classes of antibiotics. For instance, penicillin disrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis, tetracycline inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the ribosome, and macrolides also target ribosomal RNA to block protein synthesis. Each of these agents has its own specific target within the bacterial cell, but fluoroquinolones uniquely focus on DNA gyrase, making them effective against a range of bacterial infections.