BRAINCAKEProtein synthesis Inhibitors
Bacteria have 70S ribosomes, made of a small 30S subunit and a large 50S subunit. Ribosomes in the cytoplasm of human cells are larger 80S ribosomes. Because the two types differ in structure, some antibiotics bind to bacterial ribosomes but not to human cytoplasmic ribosomes. This gives them selective toxicity.
By binding to the ribosome, these antibiotics stop translation, so the bacteria cannot make the enzymes and structural proteins they need to grow and divide. Examples:
• Tetracyclines bind to the 30S subunit and stop tRNA molecules binding to the ribosome, so no new amino acids can be added.
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Key terms in this lesson
- translation
- The process by which a ribosome assembles amino acids into a polypeptide chain according to the sequence of codons on mRNA.
More in Bacteria and Disease
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Antibiotics
- Broad-spectrum, Narrow spectrum, Bacteriostatic and Bactericidal
- Antimetabolites
- Cell Wall Agents
- Cell Membrane Agents
- DNA Gyrase Inhibitors
- Antibiotic Resistance
All 30 lessons in Bacteria and Disease · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics