Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science and Germany's Max-Planck Society have determined the exact structure of the bacterial ribosome - a notoriously unstable, giant nucleoprotein complex ? explaining the way in which antibiotic drugs work. The research, led by Professor Ada Yonath of the Weizmann Institute's Structural Biology Department, focused on the functionality of five different antibiotic drugs and revealed how the drugs bind to the ribosome of bacteria and shut off protein production. Since proteins are the basis of all enzymatic reactions in the bacteria, blocking its production kills the bacterium, providing the desired antibiotic effects. The findings have been reported in Nature magazine and the prestigious scientific journal, Science.
Science characterized the results of the twenty years of research as one of the most important scientific discoveries of the year 2000. Professor Yonath, Dr. Anat Bashan and Ph.D. student Raz Zarivach treated bacteria with one of the five different antibiotics under study and then created crystals, to create a three-dimensional ?photograph? of the structures formed by the interaction of bacterial ribosome with each drug. Using X-ray crystallography, the scientists analyzed the crystalline structures they had created and determined their exact structures.
The revelation is predicted to allow a more precise antibiotic drug design, according to a press release of the Weizmann Institute, which will pinpoint the bacterial agents which cause infections at the ribosomal level. It will apparently also lead to improved treatment strategies utilizing existing antibiotic drugs.
Science characterized the results of the twenty years of research as one of the most important scientific discoveries of the year 2000. Professor Yonath, Dr. Anat Bashan and Ph.D. student Raz Zarivach treated bacteria with one of the five different antibiotics under study and then created crystals, to create a three-dimensional ?photograph? of the structures formed by the interaction of bacterial ribosome with each drug. Using X-ray crystallography, the scientists analyzed the crystalline structures they had created and determined their exact structures.
The revelation is predicted to allow a more precise antibiotic drug design, according to a press release of the Weizmann Institute, which will pinpoint the bacterial agents which cause infections at the ribosomal level. It will apparently also lead to improved treatment strategies utilizing existing antibiotic drugs.