How Does Streptomycin Inhibit Protein Synthesis?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside. It works by

blocking the ability of 30S ribosomal subunits

to make proteins, which results in bacterial death.

What effect does streptomycin have on protein synthesis?

STREPTOMYCIN affects bacterial protein synthesis in vitro by

interfering with ribosomal functions

1



, 2

. For example, it inhibits polypeptide synthesis directed by natural mRNA

3 – 5

or by synthetic polynucleotides

4 , 6 – 10

, and, in the latter case, causes extensive misreading of the genetic code

10 – 15

.

Does streptomycin inhibit DNA synthesis?

Streptomycin kills bacteria, whereas many other non-aminoglycoside inhibitors of translation do not.

Because mistranslation is now known to affect DNA replication

, we asked if hydroxyurea, a specific inhibitor of DNA synthesis, affects killing, and find that hydroxyurea significantly attenuates killing by streptomycin.

Which part of protein synthesis does streptomycin disrupt?

Streptomycin stops bacterial growth by damaging cell membranes and inhibiting protein synthesis. Specifically, it binds to

the 16S rRNA of the bacterial ribosome

, interfering with the binding of formyl-methionyl-tRNA to the 30S subunit. This prevents initiation of protein synthesis.

How does streptomycin work?

Streptomycin is a member of a family of antibiotics that work

by interrupting the function of bacteria cells’ ribosomes

, the complex molecular machines that create proteins by linking amino acids together.

Why is streptomycin so effective?

Streptomycin is an

effective antibiotic because its structure is similar to that of the anticodons that would usually bind to the ribosome

. Streptomycin is significant because it was the first antibiotic that could treat tuberculosis. Over time, bacteria have become resistant to streptomycin.

Why is streptomycin not given intravenously?

However, the association of intravenous administration, high serum levels of the drug and an

increase in side effects

led to the decision to recommend intramuscular injection of streptomycin. This belief has remained until now and providers do not recommend intravenous administration of streptomycin.

What antibiotic prevents the continuation of protein synthesis?


Erythromycin

, a macrolide, binds to the 23S rRNA component of the 50S ribosome and interferes with the assembly of 50S subunits. Erythromycin, roxithromycin, and clarithromycin all prevent elongation at the transpeptidation step of synthesis by blocking the 50S polypeptide export tunnel.

What blocks protein synthesis?


Aminoglycosides

are protein synthesis inhibitors that act primarily by impairing bacterial protein synthesis through binding to prokaryotic ribosomes. Several mechanisms of aminoglycoside resistance have been described in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Which antibiotic inhibits protein synthesis?

Antibiotics can inhibit protein synthesis by targeting either the 30S subunit, examples of which include spectinomycin,

tetracycline

, and the aminoglycosides kanamycin and streptomycin, or to the 50S subunit, examples of which include clindamycin, chloramphenicol, linezolid, and the macrolides erythromycin, …

What bacteria does streptomycin treat?

Streptomycin is an antibiotic medication used to treat a number of bacterial infections, including tuberculosis,

Mycobacterium avium complex

, endocarditis, brucellosis, Burkholderia infection, plague, tularemia, and rat bite fever.

What infections does streptomycin treat?

What is streptomycin? Streptomycin is an antibiotic that is used to treat

moderate to severe tuberculosis, pneumonia, E. coli, influenza, plague and other infections

caused by certain bacteria.

What bacteria is resistant to streptomycin?

More recently, mutations in rRNA genes have been found to be associated with in vivo acquired drug resistance in bacterial pathogens, e.g., in

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

resistant to streptomycin (10); most of the mutations found mapped to the 530 region of 16S rRNA (15, 27).

Where do you inject streptomycin?

This medication is given by injection,

usually into a muscle as directed by your doctor

. When you start treatment for TB, it is usually given once a day or as directed by your doctor. It is important to change the location of the injection site daily to avoid problem areas under the skin.

Is streptomycin still used today?

Streptomycin was discovered in 1943. It was the first antibiotic discovered that was effective against TB.

Today it is widely used as a first line TB medicine in patients that have previously been treated for TB

.

Is streptomycin an antifungal?

ChEBI Name streptomycin ChEBI ID CHEBI:17076
Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.