NCIt definition : A broad spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic derived from Streptomyces fradiae with
antibacterial activity. Neomycin is an antibiotic complex consisting of 3 components:
the two isomeric components B and C are the active components, and neomycin A is the
minor component. Neomycin irreversibly binds to the 16S rRNA and S12 protein of the
bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit. As a result, this agent interferes with the assembly
of initiation complex between mRNA and the bacterial ribosome, thereby inhibiting
the initiation of protein synthesis. In addition, neomycin induces misreading of the
mRNA template and causes translational frameshift, thereby results in premature termination.
This eventually leads to bacterial cell death.;