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Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
Published on: February 25, 2011
Gram-Negative Antibiotic Active Through Inhibition of an Essential Riboswitch
Stephen E Motika, Rebecca J Ulrich, Emily J Geddes
1Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61802, United States.
Abstract:
Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative (GN) infections for which there are few available treatment options are increasingly common. The development of new antibiotics for these pathogens is challenging because of the inability of most small molecules to accumulate inside GN bacteria. Using recently developed predictive guidelines for compound accumulation in Escherichia coli, we have converted the antibiotic Ribocil C, which targets the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) riboswitch, from a compound lacking whole-cell activity against wild-type GN pathogens into a compound that accumulates to a high level in E. coli, is effective against Gram-negative clinical isolates, and has efficacy in mouse models of GN infections. This compound allows for the first assessment of the translational potential of FMN riboswitch binders against wild-type Gram-negative bacteria.
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