Puromycin
Puromycin
Puromycin (pronunciation: pyoor-oh-MY-sin) is a aminonucleoside antibiotic, derived from the Streptomyces alboniger bacteria. It was discovered in the 1950s and is known for its ability to inhibit protein synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Etymology
The term "Puromycin" is derived from the genus name of the bacteria from which it was first isolated, Streptomyces alboniger. The suffix "-mycin" is commonly used in the names of antibiotics, indicating their ability to kill bacteria.
Function
Puromycin works by mimicking the structure of aminoacyl-tRNA, which is a crucial component in the process of protein synthesis. It gets incorporated into the growing polypeptide chain, causing premature termination of protein synthesis. This makes it a potent tool in molecular biology research, particularly in studies involving the control of protein synthesis and degradation.
Related Terms
- Aminonucleoside antibiotic: A class of antibiotics that includes puromycin. These antibiotics work by interfering with protein synthesis.
- Protein synthesis: The process by which cells build proteins. Puromycin inhibits this process.
- Streptomyces alboniger: The bacteria from which puromycin is derived.
- Aminoacyl-tRNA: A molecule that plays a key role in protein synthesis. Puromycin mimics its structure.
- Polypeptide chain: A chain of amino acids that forms part of a protein. Puromycin gets incorporated into this chain, causing protein synthesis to stop prematurely.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Puromycin
- Wikipedia's article - Puromycin
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