The antibiotic erythromycin binds to the 50s subunit of the ribosome. what effectd eos this have on a prokaryotic cell?

It inhibits the elongation of peptide chain during the process of protein synthesis in a prokaryotic cell.

Explanation:

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. Its chemical structure has lactone rings of 12 - to 22-carbon atoms. The lactone ring is linked to sugar molecules. Erythromycin targets the process of protein synthesis to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Erythromycin binds to 23S rRNA of the large ribosomal subunit (the 50S). Unless the large ribosomal subunit joins the complex consisting of mRNA, small ribosomal subunit and the initiator tRNA, the process of elongation of the peptide chain can not start. Therefore, erythromycin inhibits the peptide chain elongation during protein synthesis.

It inhibits the peptide chain elongation and protein formation in prokaryotic cells.

Explanation:

Erythromycin is a bacteriostatic drug that prevents bacteria to grow further rather than killing the bacteria. This drug binds to the 23S rRNA present in the larger subunit of bacterial ribosome which is 50S.

By binding on the larger ribosomal subunit it prevents the exiting of the growing polypeptide chain. Therefore it inhibit protein synthesis in the prokaryotic cell.

This drug does not harm human cell because humans are eukaryotes which have 60S larger ribosomal subunit, not 50S like in bacteria.