Antibiotics as inhibitors of nucleic acid and protein synthesis

The antibiotics of the rifamycin, actinomycin, chromomycin, and anthracycline groups have been found to be specific inhibitors for the DNA-controlled synthesis of RNA in vitro. Streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and puromycin can specifically suppress certain steps in the biosynthesis of proteins. The investigation of the mode of action of such substances may help us to gain a better insight into the transmission of hereditary information.