In: Biology
Many different antibiotics affect steps in translation. Based on the mode of action of each antibiotic, suggest a possible mechanism by which it works.
a. Chloramphenicol blocks the peptidyl transferase activity.
b. Tetracycline blocks the A site.
c. Streptomycin binds to the 30S subunit and results in misreading the mRNA.
a. Chloramphenicol blocks the peptidyl transferase activity.
Mechanism of action- Chloramphenicol binds to 23S rRNA of 50S subunit in bacterial ribosome to block the action of peptidyl transferase enzyme and thus inhibit the peptide bond formation and protein synthesis. This is the mechanism by which chloramphenicol stops bacterial growth and it is effective as broad spectrum antibiotics against wide range of micro-organism.
b. Tetracycline blocks the A site.
Mechanism of action- Tetracycline binds to the bacterial 30S ribosome in reversilble way and block the entry of aminoacylated t-RNA at A site (acceptor site) and prevent addition of amino acids to the elongating peptide chain, thus inhibits the protein synthesis.
c. Streptomycin binds to the 30S subunit and results in misreading the mRNA.
Mechanism of action- Streptomycin binds to the 16S rRNA of 30S subunit in bacterial ribosome an interfere the binding of formyl methinine t-RNA to the 30S subunit which leads to misreading of codon and inhibition of protein synthesis and thus results in microbial death.