When bacterial cells are treated with the antibiotic tetracycline, cells are not

Question

When bacterial cells are treated with the antibiotic tetracycline, cells are not directly killed but instead are initially suppressed in growth. Then the cells die due to their inability to grow. Cells can be studied while in the suppressed state before cell death. To determine whether tetracycline inhibits a proofreading stage rather than the initial tRNA selection stage, measurements of GTPase activity were taken in cells in the suppressed state as compared to cells that had not been treated with tetracycline.

a. Why was GTPase activity a good choice of activity to measure to test this?

b. What result would you expect if the proofreading stage was the one that is inhibited?

Explanation / Answer

a.

GTPase is the enzyme associated with the energy utilized by the organism. Aminoacyl tRNA is associated with the activity of GTPase that convert GTP to GDP. Tetracycline is the antibiotic that block the recognition of the cognate aminoacyl tRNA. So, there will be the reduction in the GTPase activity as well. Hence, GTPase activity a good choice of activity to measure to test this.

b.

If this will be the case than the bacterial cells will directly killed.

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