Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
Published on: February 25, 2011
Initiation of protein synthesis: a target for antimicrobials
Letizia Brandi1, Attilio Fabbretti, Cynthia L Pon
1Insubrias BioPark, Gerenzano (VA), Italy.
Background:
Translation initiation is a basic and universal biological process that employs significantly different components and displays substantially different mechanisms in bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic cells. A large amount of detailed mechanistic and structural information on the bacterial translation initiation apparatus has been uncovered in recent years.
Objective:
to understand which translation initiation steps could represent a novel or underexploited target for the discovery of new and specific antibacterial drugs.
Methods:
Brief descriptions of the properties and mechanism of action of the major antibiotics that have a documented direct inhibitory effect on bacterial translation initiation are presented.
Results/Conclusions:
Considerations and predictions concerning a future scenario for research and identification of bacterial translation initiation inhibitors are presented.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...
Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...
Translation in Prokaryotes
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Types of RNA
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...

