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

The Cutibacterium acnes 50S ribosomal subunit is the larger component of the 70S ribosome in the Gram-positive bacterium formerly known as "Propionibacterium acnes" (Scholz & Kilian, 2016). This ribonucleoprotein complex is essential for bacterial protein synthesis, housing the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) where peptide bond formation occurs and the nascent peptide exit tunnel (NPET) (Wilson, 2014). It is a major therapeutic target in the treatment of acne vulgaris, as its inhibition halts the production of bacterial proteins necessary for growth and virulence. Several classes of antibiotics, including macrolides, lincosamides, and oxazolidinones, exert their antimicrobial effects by binding to specific sites within the 23S ribosomal RNA of this subunit (StatPearls, 2023). For instance, clindamycin and erythromycin bind near the PTC and NPET, respectively, to interfere with translation elongation (Walsh, 2003). However, the clinical utility of targeting this subunit is increasingly threatened by the development of resistance, often through point mutations in the 23S rRNA or enzymatic methylation by erm genes (PubMed, 2018). Consequently, this target remains a focal point for the development of novel dermatological anti-infectives designed to bypass common resistance mechanisms.

Other names

Propionibacterium acnes 50S ribosomal subunitC. acnes 50S ribosomeLarge ribosomal subunit50S ribosomal subunit

Inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit, which prevents peptide bond formation at the peptidyl transferase center or blocks the exit of the nascent polypeptide chain through the ribosomal tunnel (Wilson, 2014; StatPearls, 2023).