Question

What are protein synthesis inhibitors used for?

1) Treating bacterial infections
2) Treating viral infections
3) Treating fungal infections
4) Treating parasitic infections

Answer 1

Protein synthesis inhibitors are used to treat bacterial infections by targeting and disrupting bacterial protein synthesis, effectively stopping bacterial growth. These include antibiotics like tetracycline, which block tRNA from attaching to the bacterial ribosome.

Step-by-step explanation:

Protein synthesis inhibitors are primarily used for treating bacterial infections. These medications, including antibiotics like tetracycline and puromycin, specifically target and disrupt the process of protein synthesis in bacteria. By inhibiting protein synthesis, these drugs prevent bacteria from producing the proteins they need to grow and reproduce, leading to their elimination. Tetracycline, for example, obstructs the A-site on the bacterial ribosome, preventing the binding of tRNA carrying amino acids, which in turn halts protein elongation. This interference is possible because of the structural differences between bacterial ribosomes (70S) and eukaryotic ribosomes (80S), making these drugs selective against bacteria, with minimal effects on human cells.

In contrast, antiviral drugs work by targeting proteins encoded by viral genes without damaging host cell functions. Therefore, antiviral drugs often have a different mechanism of action compared to protein synthesis inhibitors.