title: Erythromycin- and chloramphenicol-induced ribosomal assembly defects are secondary effects of protein synthesis inhibition.
abstract: Several protein synthesis inhibitors are known to inhibit ribosome assembly. This may be a consequence of direct binding of the antibiotic to ribosome precursor particles, or it could result indirectly from loss of coordination in the production of ribosomal components due to the inhibition of protein synthesis. Here we demonstrate that erythromycin and chloramphenicol, inhibitors of the large ribosomal subunit, affect the assembly of both the large and small subunits. Expression of a small erythromycin resistance peptide acting in cis on mature ribosomes relieves the erythromycin-mediated assembly defect for both subunits. Erythromycin treatment of bacteria expressing a mixture of erythromycin-sensitive and -resistant ribosomes produced comparable effects on subunit assembly. These results argue in favor of the view that erythromycin and chloramphenicol affect the assembly of the large ribosomal subunit indirectly.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Triinu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siibak
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peil
authors.forename: Liqun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mankin
authors.forename: Jaanus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remme
authors.forename: Tanel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tenson
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D004917:Erythromycin; D002701:Chloramphenicol