Ketolides are effective not only against macrolide-sensitive bacteria but also against some macrolide-resistant strains. Here we present data regarding a new ketolide with an alkyl-aryl side chain at C-13 of its lactone ring. It behaves as a strong inhibitor of protein synthesis in a model coupled transcription/translation system, although it does not affect the accuracy of translation. In addition, detailed kinetic analysis shows that it slowly forms a very tight, slowly reversible complex with prokaryotic ribosomes, a property that could be correlated with its superior activity compared with erythromycin against Escherichia coli both in vivo and in vitro.
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