You are working in a laboratory producing new antibiotics for human and veterina

Question

You are working in a laboratory producing new antibiotics for human and veterinary use. One compound with potential value inhibits the action of prokaryotic ribosomes. The compound, however, was shown to inhibit the growth of animal cells in culture. What is one possible explanation for its effect on animal cells? You are working in a laboratory producing new antibiotics for human and veterinary use. One compound with potential value inhibits the action of prokaryotic ribosomes. The compound, however, was shown to inhibit the growth of animal cells in culture. What is one possible explanation for its effect on animal cells?

Explanation / Answer

Ans. The animal cell has eukaryotic ribosomes (80s) in its cytoplasm, and prokaryotic ribosomes (70s) in its mitochondria.

Since the new antibiotic inhibits prokaryotic ribosomes, translation of mitochondria-encoded proteins would also be inhibited in animal cell. Inhibition of translation in mitochondria further leads to loss of many functions of mitochondria, and ultimately non-functional mitochondria in animal cells.

Because mitochondria is the primary site of ATP generation along with many crucial metabolic pathways, loss of functions of mitochondria would ultimately lead to death of the animal cell, too.

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