Mitochondrial ribosome as the target for the macrolide antibiotic clarithromycin in the helminth Echinococcus multilocularis.

ABSTRACT: The mitochondrial rRNA of the tapeworm species Echinococcus multilocularis carries an adenine at sequence position 2058 (numbering according to that for Escherichia coli) of the large-subunit rRNA (lsrRNA), while the nucleus-encoded rRNA, as determined in this study, is characterized by 2058G. This indicates a dichotomy in the drug susceptibilities of ribosomes: cytoplasmic ribosomes are predicted to be resistant to macrolide antibiotics, while mitochondrial ribosomes lack the most common chromosomal resistance determinant, lsrRNA 2058G. Upon incubation with the macrolide clarithromycin, the formation of vesicles from metacestode tissue was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Electron microscopy revealed distinct morphological alterations both of the mitochondria and of the vesicle wall (e

SUBMITTER: Mathis A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1196245 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature