Penicillin is an antibiotic that inhibits enzymes from catalyzing the synthesis of peptidoglycan, so which prokaryotes should be most vulnerable to inhibition by penicillin?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Penicillin specifically inhibits the synthesis of peptidoglycan, which is a key component of the cell wall in bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall, which makes them more vulnerable to inhibition by penicillin compared to gram-negative bacteria, which have a thinner peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane that can act as a barrier to penicillin. Mycoplasmas lack a cell wall and are therefore not susceptible to penicillin. Archaea have a different type of cell wall that does not contain peptidoglycan and are not affected by penicillin. Endospore-bearing bacteria have a protective outer layer surrounding their endospores, which can make them less vulnerable to antibiotics like penicillin.

Penicillin Is an Antibiotic That Inhibits Enzymes from Catalyzing the Synthesis