Macrolide antibiotics allosterically predispose the ribosome for translation arrest

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1403586111
• Publication Date: 2014-06-25T00:20:08Z
• Authors: Shanmugapriya Sot...; Bo Liu; Wei Han; Haripriya Ramu; Dorota Klepacki; Gemma Catherine A...; Age Brauer; Maido Remm; Tanel Tenson; Klaus Schulten; Nora Vázquez-Laslop; Alexander S. Mankin
• Keywords: Peptidyl transferase; 23S ribosomal RNA

Significance Translation arrest regulated by nascent peptides and small cofactors controls expression of important genes, including medically relevant macrolide antibiotic resistance genes. The role the cofactor for triggering this mechanism has remained enigmatic. Previous studies suggested that extensive interactions between chain molecule juxtaposed in ribosomal exit tunnel were critical halting translation. However, here we show induces stalling, even without significant contacts with peptide, allosterically altering peptidyl transferase center. This finding unveils a previously unknown translation demonstrates existence functional link catalytic center ribosome.