Final answer:
Oxazolidinones, like linezolid, inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit and interfering with the initiation complex formation and translocation process during translation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mechanism of Action of Oxazolidinones (like Linezolid)
The class of synthetic antibacterial drugs known as oxazolidinones, which includes linezolid, exert their effect by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria. They achieve this by binding to the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit. Unlike other protein synthesis inhibitors that also target the 50S subunit, oxazolidinones interfere with the formation of the initiation complex needed for translation, which includes the association of the 50S subunit, 30S subunit, and other necessary factors. In doing so, they furthermore prevent the translocation of the growing protein chain from the ribosomal A site to the P site, which is a critical step in protein synthesis.
Linezolid represents a novel mechanism among protein synthesis inhibitors and offers a different approach to combat bacterial infections, particularly those caused by gram-positive bacteria, where it shows high efficacy.