Friday 2 November 2007

Erythromycin

I can see the attraction of creating weird looking molecules with lots of stereo centers. But, well, drawing them is enough.

This is Erythromycin's structure formula, as it is found on Wikipedia. It's a macrolide antibiotic used for people with an allergy to penicillin.

This is the 3D structure:


This is the 3D structure from a different perspective:

Nothing new, I know but I get most of my hits from people googling for such graphics. So here you go.

What is new though is this little brain teaser. You'll find a jmol applet next to the structural formula. The applet contains 8 models you can switch in between with your right mouse button. One of them is the correct structure the other ones are diastereomeres. Maybe I am the only one who thinks this is fun. But if you do try it out let me know if you found the correct structure.

And why is there always a need for new antibiotics? Because little germs are succesfully beating big pharma over and over again. My alternative tree hugging side might like that but of course my rational side would rather stay healthy.

4 comments:

Ψ*Ψ said...

I'm not even gonna try to pick out the antibiotic from the diastereomers. Ouch! Headache!

Felix said...

doing too many planar structures there ;) ?

alright I could have picked a simpler molecule. but I think this one is doable

Ψ*Ψ said...

On a good day, I might know left from right. Three dimensions? That's asking too much... :)

Felix said...

if you rotate the molecule you just have to tell left from right :)
(left=dotted line, right=thick line)