Inhibition of antiassociation activity of translation initiation factor 3 by paromomycin.

The effect of paromomycin on the interaction of ribosomal subunits was studied. Paromomycin inhibited the antiassociation activity of initiation factor 3 (IF3). Furthermore, ribosomal subunits were associated to form 70S ribosomes by paromomycin even in the presence of 1 mM Mg(2+). Paromomycin did not inhibit the binding of IF3 to the 30S ribosomal subunits. On the other hand, IF3 bound to the 30S subunits was expelled by paromomycin-induced subunit association (70S formation). These results indicate that the stabilization of 70S ribosomes by paromomycin may in part be responsible for its inhibitory effects on translocation and ribosome recycling.