Many bacterial cells contain functional groups that are susceptible to antibiotic drugs,but may,over time,change their functional groups to become resistant to these drugs.What functional group change is occurring in the transition shown below?

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The functional group change occurring in the transition shown is amide to ester. This is because many antibiotics target the bacterial cell wall, which is primarily composed of peptidoglycan. Peptidoglycan is a polymer made up of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM), cross-linked by peptide bonds in between the NAM molecules. Antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins target the enzymes responsible for cross-linking the peptide bonds in between NAM molecules, thereby preventing peptidoglycan assembly and weakening the cell wall. However, some bacteria have evolved to produce enzymes called beta-lactamases that break down the beta-lactam ring of these antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. Beta-lactamases are often encoded on plasmids that can be transferred between bacteria, spreading antibiotic resistance. The beta-lactamases hydrolyze the amide bond in the beta-lactam ring, breaking it down into an acid and an amine. Some bacteria are also capable of acetylating or phosphorylating the amine, converting it to an ester or an amide, respectively, which further reduces the efficacy of the antibiotic. This functional group change is a common mechanism of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and highlights the importance of developing new antimicrobial agents that target different bacterial components.

Many Bacterial Cells Contain Functional Groups That Are Susceptible to Antibiotic