Effect of antibiotics on ribosomal RNA and proteins from Streptococcus pyogenes

Abstract

Cells of Streptococcus pyogenes were prepared under rigid conditions. The microorganisms were then incubated for 3 hours in the presence or absence of chloramphenicol, actinomycin or puromycin. RNA, ribosomal fraction and ribosomal proteins were isolated from the cells. The materials were invesigated with the help of infra red spectroscopy using the potassium bromide pellet method. Quantitative differences in the 1750–1500 cm-1 region were observed with materials treated with the antibiotics. Synthetic mixtures of ribosomal RNA with progressively larger amounts of ribosomal proteins show analogous changes, namely a progressive increase in the strength of the 1650 cm-1 band relative to the 1685 cm-1 band, and an increase in the 1535 cm-1 band. The analytical results obtained with the ribosomal RNA isolated from S. pyogenes treated with antibiotics indicated increased amounts of proteins which could not be removed by the applied extraction method. The evidence presented suggests a change in the binding between ribosomal RNA and ribosomal proteins in the material isolated from the antibiotic treated microorganisms. The I. R. spectroscopy seems to be an useful tool in the investigation of some aspects of biological materials.