The Mode of Action of Pederin, a Drug Inhibiting Protein Synthesis in Eucaryotic Organisms

Abstract

Abstract Pederin, a toxic substance isolated from the insect Paederus fuscipes, inhibits growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and EUE cells but not of Bacillus subtilis. Protein synthesis in vitro appears to be inhibited by the drug in preparations obtained from organisms containing 80 S ribosomes (yeast, EUE cells and rat liver) but not in those from organisms endowed with 70 S ribosomes (E. coli and B. subtilis). Pederin inhibits protein synthesis at a stage subsequent to the formation of the ternary complex between ribosomes, aminoacyl-tRNA and messenger RNA. Resistance or susceptibility to the drug appears to be a characteristic of ribosomes.