Altered Ribosomes in Antibiotic-Resistant Mutants of Mycobacterium smegmatis

Two alleles for viomycin-capreomycin resistance ( vic ) in Mycobacterium smegmatis affect ribosome structures. One ( vicA ) affects a component of 50 S subunits and the other ( vicB ) affects a component of 30 S subunits. The locus for neomycin-kanamycin resistance ( nek ), which is linked to vicA and vicB , affects a component of 30 S subunits. Although the erythromycin resistance locus ( ery ) is linked to vic and nek , no ribosomal alterations could be detected. Mutations at the streptomycin locus ( str ) not linked to vic and nek caused alterations of 30 S subunits.