How do acne antibiotics such as doxycycline actually work?
In general, antibiotic medications are strictly antibacterial (not for viruses). Bacteria, in general, must synthesize proteins, which facilitates energy production, in order to survive. One kind of antibiotics are protein synthesis inhibitors, preventing its proteins from multiplying. These inhibit DNA, RNA and protein production. Yet some others kill bacteria by working on the outside of the bacteria, preventing synthesis or repair of the cell wall (cell wall inhibitors). Doxycycline is a part of the Tetracycline family, which are “bacteriostatic” so it inhibits protein synthesis inside the bacteria. If I remember correctly, the molecular formula is C22H24N2O8, HCL, ½ C2H6O, ½ H2O. Once it enters the bacterial cell membrane, it binds to the 30s ribosomes, preventing the binding of the tRNA amino acid (a form of “transportation,” like a delivery truck) to the mRNA (the mailman). When the tRNA cannot bind (cannot deliver the messages for replication), the mailman has nothing to distrib
