Amphotericin mechanism

Several amphotericin B molecules bind to ergosterol in the plasma membranes of sensitive fungal cells.There, they form pores (channels) that require hydrophobic interactions between the lipophilic segment of the polyene antibiotic and the sterol The pores disrupt membrane function, allowing electrolytes (particularly potassium) and small molecules to leak from the cell, resulting in cell death. its effects on the permeability and transport properties of fungal membranes. Polyenes are molecules with both hydrophilic and lipophilic characteristics (ie, they are amphipathic). They bind to ergosterol, a sterol specific to fungal cell membranes, and cause the formation of artificial pores Resistance, though uncommon, can occur via a decreased level of or a structural change in membrane ergosterol