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Antibiotic blocks mRNA path on the ribosome

Many translation initiation inhibitors block transfer RNA binding or placement in the ribosome. Structures of kasugamycin bound to the bacterial ribosome now indicate that it instead blocks proper mRNA placement.

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Figure 1: Inhibition of translation initiation in bacteria by kasugamycin.
Figure 2: The binding sites of two kasugamycin molecules (Ksg1 and Ksg2) on the T. thermophilus small ribosomal subunit overlap with the sites of action of edeine (Edn) and pactamycin (Pct).

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Mankin, A. Antibiotic blocks mRNA path on the ribosome. Nat Struct Mol Biol 13, 858–860 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb1006-858

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