An antibiotic is a drug that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms. The use of antibiotics has been of great importance in the battle against many infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. The mode of action for many antibiotics is to inhibit the translation process within bacterial cells. Certain antibiotics selectively bind to bacterial (70S) ribosomes but do not inhibit eukaryotic (80S) ribosomes. Why would an antibiotic bind to a bacterial ribosome but not to a eukaryotic ribosome? Why does this binding inhibit growth?

Biology (MindTap Course List)
11th Edition
ISBN:9781337392938
Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg
Publisher:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg
Chapter13: Gene Expression
Section13.4: Translation
Problem 3C: A certain mRNA strand has the following nucleotide sequence: 5AUGACGUAUAACUUU3 What is the anticodon...
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An antibiotic is a drug that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms. The use of antibiotics has been of great importance in the battle against many infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. The mode of action for many antibiotics is to inhibit the translation process within bacterial cells. Certain antibiotics selectively bind to bacterial (70S) ribosomes but do not inhibit eukaryotic (80S) ribosomes. Why would an antibiotic bind to a bacterial ribosome but not to a eukaryotic ribosome? Why does this binding inhibit growth?

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