Puromycin terminates translation because it structurally resembles:
- A The Shine-Dalgarno sequence of bacterial mRNA
- B The 3' terminal adenosine of tRNA linked to an amino acid ✓
- C GTP bound to elongation factor Tu
- D The branch point adenosine of a lariat intermediate
Explanation
Puromycin is an analog of aminoacyl-adenosine, the 3' end of a charged tRNA. It enters the B site, accepts the growing peptide via peptidyl transferase, and because it lacks the rest of the tRNA and cannot translocate, the peptidyl-puromycin complex dissociates, releasing an incomplete chain. It acts on both prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes. Chloramphenicol, by contrast, blocks peptidyl transferase without mimicking aminoacyl-tRNA.
Reference: Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, 32nd ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.