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Selective Toxicity of Mikamycins, Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis

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Abstract

MIKAMYCIN, an antibiotic belonging to the group of PA114, streptogramin, staphylomycin and ostreogrycin, is composed of two main active principles—mikamycin A and mikamycin B—both of which have been demonstrated to be potent inhibitors of protein synthesis in a certain species of bacteria1–4. The inhibition of protein synthesis by streptogramin has been observed by Vazquez5 in the intact cells of Staphyloccus aureus. The site of action of mikamycins appears to be located in the process in which amino-acid bound to sRNA is transferred to protein on the ribosomes, as is the case with chloramphenicol6–9 or puromycin9–14.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-Ku

    H. YAMAGUCHI & N. TANAKA

Authors
  1. H. YAMAGUCHI
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  2. N. TANAKA
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YAMAGUCHI, H., TANAKA, N. Selective Toxicity of Mikamycins, Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis. Nature 201, 499–501 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/201499a0

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