Streptomycin is produced by the soil organism Streptomyces griseus with antibacterial activity. This antibiotic irreversibly binds to the 16S rRNA and S12 protein within the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit. Consequently, the agent interferes with the assembly of initiation complex between the mRNA and bacterial ribosome, thereby blocking the initiation of protein synthesis. Furthermore, streptomycin triggers misreading of mRNA templates and induces translational frameshift, subsequently resulting in premature termination. This process eventually causes bacterial cell death. Today, streptomycin has been known as an amino cyclitol glycoside that consists of streptidine containing a disaccharyl moiety attached at the 4-position. It comprises three components linked glycosidically (by ether bonds):
- streptidine (inositol with two guanido groups);
- streptose (methyl pentose);
- streptoscamine (N-methyl-L-glycosamine).
To be noticed, two guanido groups of streptidine are significant for the antibiotic activity and removal of either group would reduce its antibiotic activity up to 90%.
Learn more: Streptomycin Hapten
