Kanamycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that can used for inhibiting protein synthesis of bacteria, which can be used for treating bacterial infections and tuberculosis. Kanamycin can bind to bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit protein and four nucleotides of 16S rRNA irreversibly to inhibit the formation of mRNA. Binding of kanamycin can interfere the vicinity of nucleotide 1400 in 16S rRNA that can interact with wobble base of the anticodon of tRNA, which lead to misreading of mRNA and wrong insertion of amino acids. The result is the nonfunctional or toxic peptides that is generated from the ribosome. Aminoglycosides can be used for treating bacterial infections from aerobic, Gram-negative bacteria and also Gram-postive bacteria. However, aminoglycosides may cause more damage to the host than other antibiotics for Gram-positive bacterial infection. Aminoglycosides are mostly ineffective against anaerobic bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Kanamycin Pathway References