A calcium-dependent lipopeptide that punctures Gram-positive membranes and treats MRSA bloodstream infections.
Also known as: LY146032 · Cubicin
Part of the Foundational & therapeutic peptides cluster
Overview
Daptomycin is a 13-amino-acid cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic originally isolated from Streptomyces roseosporus. In the presence of calcium it inserts into phosphatidylglycerol-rich Gram-positive membranes, oligomerizes and forms ion-leaking lesions that rapidly depolarize the cell. Approved by the FDA in 2003, it treats serious infections including those caused by MRSA. This page is educational and not medical advice.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Soil bacterium Streptomyces roseosporus
Primary research or clinical context: Approved antibiotic for serious Gram-positive infections including MRSA
Calcium-dependent mechanism
Daptomycin's ten-residue ring and three-residue tail carry a decanoyl fatty-acid chain. Calcium ions let it bind phosphatidylglycerol in the bacterial membrane, where it aggregates and alters membrane curvature to create channels. The resulting potassium efflux and depolarization halt macromolecular synthesis and kill the cell.
Clinical use
Daptomycin is used intravenously for complicated skin infections and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, including methicillin-resistant strains. It is inactivated by lung surfactant, so it is not used for pneumonia. Clinical use and dosing are managed by prescribers; this page provides educational background only.
FAQ about Daptomycin
What is Daptomycin?+
Daptomycin is a 13-amino-acid cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic originally isolated from Streptomyces roseosporus. In the presence of calcium it inserts into phosphatidylglycerol-rich Gram-positive membranes, oligomerizes and forms ion-leaking lesions that rapidly depolarize the cell. Approved by the FDA in 2003, it treats serious infections including those caused by MRSA. This page is educational and not medical advice.
Is Daptomycin an approved medicine?+
Daptomycin: Approved antibiotic for serious Gram-positive infections including MRSA. Always follow licensed medical guidance for approved products.
What is the typical length of Daptomycin?+
Daptomycin is commonly described as approximately 13 amino acids (Cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic).