Localization of the puromycin binding site on the large ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli by immunoelectron microscopy.

By using immunoelectron microscopy, we have localized the binding site on 50S Escherichia coli ribosomal subunits for puromycin, an antibiotic that interacts with the ribosomal peptidyltransferase center. This was achieved by affinity-labeling 50S subunits with N-bromoacetyl puromycin and treating the labeled subunits with an antibody specific for the N6,N6-dimethyladenosine moiety of puromycin. The position of the puromycin binding site was then revealed by localizing the attachment sites of the IgG molecules on the surfaces of the 50S subunits under the electron microscope: it was located at the interface between the subunits, on and around the wider lateral protuberance of the 50S subunit. This localizes directly the peptidyl transferase center on the surface of the large ribosomal subunit.