Small molecule
PubChem CID 3365
Fluconazole
Diflucan
- Mechanism of action
- Inhibits fungal CYP450 lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase
- In plain language
- Blocks a fungal enzyme needed to build ergosterol, the substance that keeps a fungus's cell membrane intact, causing the membrane to break down and the fungus to stop growing.
- How it works
- Fluconazole is a triazole antifungal that selectively inhibits the fungal cytochrome P450 enzyme lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase, which normally converts lanosterol to ergosterol. Inhibition depletes ergosterol and causes accumulation of methylated sterols in the fungal membrane, disrupting membrane structure and function and producing a fungistatic effect. Mammalian CYP450 enzymes are far less sensitive to this inhibition, giving fluconazole its selectivity for fungal over human cells. Resistance can arise via target-enzyme mutations or upregulation of efflux transporter genes.
- Therapeutic applications
- Indicated for vaginal candidiasis; oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis; cryptococcal meningitis, including in AIDS patients; and prophylaxis to decrease the incidence of candidiasis in bone marrow transplant patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
- Class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Antifungal
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