Abstract
Emetine inhibits protein synthesis in certain mammalian cells, species of Saccharomyces, and in Anemia phylitidis, a higher plant, but not in cell-free extracts prepared from Escherichia coli. Although distinctly different in chemical nature, ([long dash])-emetine and the ipecac alkaloids show configurational and con-formational similarities to ([long dash])-cycloheximide and the glutarimide antibiotics and have similar effects on protein synthesis. The results of these studies define a structural basis for the inhibition of protein synthesis and suggest a synthetic approach to new compounds of potential therapeutic and agricultural importance.