Properties of protein synthesis inhibitors
| Translation inhibitor | Reversibility | Mechanism of action | Effect on ribosome | Reference |
| CHX | Reversible | Binds E site, 60S ribosome subunit | Blocks translocation during elongation; stabilizes polysomes | Schneider-Poetsch et al., 2010 |
| Emetine | Irreversible | Binds 40S ribosome subunit | Freezes translation during elongation; stabilizes polysomes | Jiménez et al., 1977 |
| Anisomycin | Reversible | Binds A site, 60S ribosome subunit; competes with PMY | Blocks peptidyl transferase activity; stabilizes polysomes | Hansen et al., 2003 |
| Pactamycin | Reversible | Binds 40S ribosome subunit in initiation complex | Blocks initiation step of translation; inhibits polysome formation | Kappen et al., 1973 |
| Sodium arsenite | Reversible | Oxidative stressor induces eIF2a phosphorylation | Induces stress granule; inhibits polysome formation | Kedersha et al., 2002 |
| Harringtonine | Partially reversible | Prevents peptide bond formation at the initiation complex | Blocks initiation step of translation; inhibits polysome formation | Fresno et al., 1977 |
| Translation inhibitor | Reversibility | Mechanism of action | Effect on ribosome | Reference |
| CHX | Reversible | Binds E site, 60S ribosome subunit | Blocks translocation during elongation; stabilizes polysomes | Schneider-Poetsch et al., 2010 |
| Emetine | Irreversible | Binds 40S ribosome subunit | Freezes translation during elongation; stabilizes polysomes | Jiménez et al., 1977 |
| Anisomycin | Reversible | Binds A site, 60S ribosome subunit; competes with PMY | Blocks peptidyl transferase activity; stabilizes polysomes | Hansen et al., 2003 |
| Pactamycin | Reversible | Binds 40S ribosome subunit in initiation complex | Blocks initiation step of translation; inhibits polysome formation | Kappen et al., 1973 |
| Sodium arsenite | Reversible | Oxidative stressor induces eIF2a phosphorylation | Induces stress granule; inhibits polysome formation | Kedersha et al., 2002 |
| Harringtonine | Partially reversible | Prevents peptide bond formation at the initiation complex | Blocks initiation step of translation; inhibits polysome formation | Fresno et al., 1977 |