Bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit (Cutibacterium acnes) (50S ribosome)

The bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit is the larger component of the 70S ribosome in prokaryotes, including the skin-associated bacterium Cutibacterium acnes (StatPearls, 2023). It plays a fundamental role in protein synthesis by catalyzing peptide bond formation via its peptidyl transferase center and facilitating the translocation of the nascent peptide chain (NCBI, 2022). In the context of dermatology, the 50S subunit is a primary target for several classes of antibiotics, such as macrolides and lincosamides, which are used to treat acne vulgaris (Mayo Clinic, 2023). These drugs bind to the 23S ribosomal RNA within the subunit, obstructing the exit tunnel or the active site, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth and reducing the inflammatory response triggered by C. acnes (PubMed, 2021). The clinical utility of targeting this subunit is increasingly threatened by the emergence of resistant strains, often mediated by ribosomal methylation or point mutations in the rRNA (Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2020).

Other names

Large ribosomal subunit50S subunitPropionibacterium acnes 50S ribosome23S rRNA-protein complexProkaryotic 50S ribosomal subunit

Inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit, specifically the 23S rRNA, which prevents peptide bond formation or translocation of the tRNA-peptide complex (StatPearls, 2023).