What is the primary mechanism of action of macrolide antibiotics?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis
Macrolides inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by reversibly binding to the 23S rRNA of the 50S ribosomal subunit. This action blocks the translocation step of elongation, preventing the movement of the peptidyl-tRNA from the A site to the P site.
Keep practicing
More Macrolides questions
- Which of the following macrolides is known for having a exceptionally long half-life, allowing for a short 3- to 5-day treatment course?
- A patient taking Erythromycin reports significant gastrointestinal cramping and nausea. This is most likely due to the drug's agonism of wh…
- Which of the following is a common cardiovascular side effect associated with macrolide use, especially when combined with other CYP3A4 inh…
- Which macrolide is a potent inhibitor of the CYP3A4 enzyme system and is most likely to cause drug-drug interactions with statins or warfar…
- A patient with a documented severe anaphylactic allergy to Penicillin requires treatment for atypical pneumonia. Which macrolide is typical…
- Which macrolide-like drug is specifically indicated for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection due to its minimal systemic abs…