Penicillin is an antibiotic that kills bacteria by binding to the active site of an enzyme involved in synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. Which of the following phenomena best describes the mechanism of action of penicillin?
A) noncompetitive inhibition
B) feedback inhibition
C) allosteric regulation
D) competitive inhibition

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Penicillin acts by competitively inhibiting the active site of an enzyme that bacteria use to synthesize their cell walls. This means it directly competes with the natural substrate of the enzyme, preventing the enzyme from performing its normal function in cell wall synthesis.

Penicillin Is an Antibiotic That Kills Bacteria by Binding to the Active