Overview

The penicillins (pen-uh-SILL-ins) are a class of antibiotic compounds derived from the molds Penicillium notatum and Penicillium chrysogenum. The class contains a number of compounds with the same basic bicyclic structure to which are attached different side chains. That basic structure consists of two amino acids, cysteine and valine, joined to each other to make a bicyclic ("two-ring") compound. The different forms of penicillin are distinguished from each other by adding a single capital letter to their names. Thus: penicillin F, penicillin G, penicillin K, penicillin N, penicillin O, penicillin S, penicillin V, and penicillin X. A number of other antibiotics, including ampicillin, amoxicillin, and methicillin, have similar chemical structures.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Not applicable; see Overview

Formula:

(CH₃)₂C₅H₃NSO(COOH)NHCOR, where R represents any one of a number of substituted groups; see Overview

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur

Compound Type:

Bicyclic...