Crystal structure of antibiotics bound to the 30S ribosome and its use

摘要

The invention provides high resolution X-ray crystal structures of the 30S ribosome, obtained from Thermus thermophilus 30S subunit, having a tetragonal space group P4₁2₁2 to which are bound an antibiotic selected from the group paromomycin, streptomycin, spectinomycin, tetracycline, pactamycin and hygromycin B. An advantageous feature of the structure is that it diffracts at about 3 Å resolution. The invention also provides a crystal of 30S having the three dimensional atomic coordinates of the 30S ribosome, the coordinates being provided in any one of tables 1 to 4. The data may be used for the rational design and modelling of inhibitors for the 30S ribosome, which have potential use as antibiotics.