Kanamycin

Mode of Action

Diffuses through the porinchannels in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Interacts with at least three ribosomal proteins, inhibiting protein synthesis and increasing translation errors.

Mechanism of Resistance

Kanamycin is inactivated by bacterial aminophosphotransferases (APHs). The APHs inactivate kanamycin by transferring γ-phosphate of ATP to the hydroxyl group in the 3' position of the pseudosaccharide.

References

Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Vol 1.