Bacterial RNA Polymerase Inhibition Module

A conserved antibacterial drug-mechanism module representing bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP), the enzyme that transcribes mRNA and the target of the rifamycin class (rifampicin, rifabutin, rifapentine, rifaximin). Rifamycins bind the RNAP beta subunit (encoded by rpoB) in the DNA/RNA channel and block extension of nascent RNA beyond a few nucleotides, halting transcription. Because the bacterial RNAP sequence diverges from the human enzyme, rifamycins are selectively toxic. Rifamycins penetrate cells and biofilms well and are a backbone of antimycobacterial therapy and of regimens for intracellular and device-associated infection — but because single rpoB point mutations confer high-level resistance, they are almost always used in combination. This module defines the mechanism-of-action design pattern for rifamycin treatments: conforming entries link a treatment to the RNAP target via target_mechanisms.