On the molecular mechanism of action of certain substrates and inhibitors of ribosomal peptidyl transferase

Conformational analysis of a number of inhibitors and substrates of Escherichia coli ribosomal peptidyl transferase has indicated that they are analogs of the 3′-terminus of aminoacyl- or peptidyl-tRNA and that their primary locus of action is the acceptor site of this enzyme. The evidence available in the literature which supports the proposed scheme has been reviewed. Specific, experimentally accessible predictions of the scheme are given.