title: Hygromycin B inhibition of protein synthesis and ribosome biogenesis in Escherichia coli.
abstract: The aminoglycoside antibiotic hygromycin B was examined in Escherichia coli cells for inhibitory effects on translation and ribosomal-subunit formation. Pulse-chase labeling experiments were performed, which verified lower rates of ribosomal-subunit synthesis in drug-treated cells. Hygromycin B exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on viable-cell numbers, growth rate, protein synthesis, and 30S and 50S subunit formation. Unlike other aminoglycosides, hygromycin B was a more effective inhibitor of translation than of ribosomal-subunit formation in E. coli. Examination of total RNA from treated cells showed an increase in RNA corresponding to a precursor to the 16S rRNA, while mature 16S rRNA decreased. Northern hybridization to rRNA in cells treated with hygromycin B showed that RNase II- and RNase III-deficient strains of E. coli accumulated 16S rRNA fragments upon treatment with the drug. The results indicate that hygromycin B targets protein synthesis and 30S ribosomal-subunit assembly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, J. H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McGaha
authors.forename: W Scott
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Champney
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006921:Hygromycin B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D006921:Hygromycin B