A proof of the specificity of kanamycin-ribosomal RNA interaction with designed synthetic analogs and the antibacterial activity.

The binding specificity of designed synthetic kanamycins with model RNA sequences (wild-type and point-mutated type) derived from the 16S ribosomal A-site was evaluated using surface plasmon resonance imaging. It was observed that kanamycins have nonspecific and multiple interactions with RNA hairpins and that the binding potency is not always proportional to the antimicrobial activity.