Inhibition of protein synthesis by polypeptide antibiotics. I. Inhibition in intact bacteria.

Ennis, Herbert L. (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.). Inhibition of protein synthesis by polypeptide antibiotics. I. Inhibition in intact bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 90:1102-1108. 1965.-The mechanism of inhibition of growth of cells by the polypeptide antibiotics of the PA 114, vernamycin, and streptogramin complexes was studied. This inhibition apparently was due to the selective inhibition of protein synthesis by these antibiotics. Ribonucleic acid synthesis was unaffected by concentrations of the antibiotics which completely inhibited protein synthesis. Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was slightly inhibited. These antibiotics are composed of a number of components. Mixtures of equal amounts of PA 114 A and PA 114 B or vernamycin A and Balpha were more active in stopping protein synthesis in intact cells than each of the components of the antibiotic complex alone. Mutants resistant to one of the antibiotics were resistant to all of the group and, in addition, were resistant to erythromycin and oleandomycin.