Beta-Lactams And Cell Wall-Active Antibiotics

Question 1

Beta-lactam antibiotics block which step

Answer 1

Cell wall synthesis

Final reaction: cross-linking of adjacent peptidoglycan strands by a transpeptidation reaction

Question 2

Beta-lactams structurally resemble which terminal structure

Answer 2

D-alanyl-D-alanine

Question 3

Protein involved in the assembly, maintenance or regulation of peptidoglycan wall synthesis

Answer 3

Penicillin-binding protein

Inactivating this will structurally weaken the cell wall -> aberrant morphological form -> cell lysis -> death