Fusidic acid‐dependent ribosomal complexes protect Escherichia coli ribosomes from the action of the type 1 ribosome‐inactivating protein crotin 2

Abstract

The type 1 ribosome‐inactivating protein crotin 2 depurinated Escherichia coli ribosomes which, upon treatment of the isolated rRNA with acid aniline, released a fragment of around 240 nucleotides whose 5'‐end sequence was 5'‐GAGGACCGGAGUGGAC‐3'. The formation of fusidic acid‐dependent ribosomal complexes completely prevented release of the fragment. Ribosomes from crotin 2‐pretreated fusidic acid complexes were insensitive to acid aniline. They released the RNA fragment only after a second treatment with crotin 2 and acid aniline whereas unprotected ribosomes released the fragment directly after acid aniline.