Use of 2-aminopurine as a fluorescent tool for characterizing antibiotic recognition of the bacterial rRNA A-site.

Spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques have been employed to characterize the impact of incorporation of the fluorescent base analog 2-aminopurine into the 1492 or 1493 position of an E. coli rRNA A-site model oligonucleotide, as well as the energetics and dynamics associated with recognition of this A-site model oligomer by aminoglycoside antibiotics. The results of these studies indicate that incorporation of 2AP into either the 1492 or 1493 position does not perturb the structure or stability of the host RNA or its aminoglycoside binding affinity. In addition, the results also highlight drug-induced reduction in the mobilities of the bases at both positions 1492 and 1493 as a potentially key determinant of bactericidal potency.