Question

Concerning the known antibiotic mechanisms of action of chloramphenicol and cycloheximide, why should the former not prevent any α-amylase production?

Answer 1

Chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol is an useful antibiotics used for the treatmentof various infection. Bacteriostatic in action and has a broad spectrum activity effective against both gram possitve and gram negative bacteria.

Mechanism of action of Chloramphenicol

chloramphenicol acts by inhibiting the protein synthesis. It binds to the 23S rRNA on the 50S ribosomal subunit of the bacteria and the action of peptidyl transferace enzyme is inhibited.Peptidyl transferase which is an enzyme produced by the bacteria transfers the growing polypeptide from the peptidyl tRNA leading to peptide bond formation.

Cycloheximide

Cycloheximide is fungicide which is naturally occuring and it is produced by the bacterium Streptomyces griseus.

Mechanism of Action

Cycloheximide also acts by inhibiting bacterial synthesis. The translocation step is been affected by this drug which prevents further protein synthesis. i.e, the movement of 2tRNA molecules and mRNA in relation to the ribosome) which results in the blocking of translational elongation.