Final answer:
Cephalosporins and penicillin are antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis by blocking the enzyme transpeptidase, leading to cell bursting and bacterial death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, both cephalosporins and penicillin are classes of antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis. These antibiotics target the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, which forms the bacterial cell wall, by blocking the enzyme transpeptidase that catalyzes the final step in cell wall construction. Without a proper cell wall, bacteria become vulnerable to osmotic lysis, which can lead to cell bursting and death. Penicillin was discovered as a natural product from the mold Penicillium and has been instrumental in the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infections. Cephalosporins, discovered in the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium, are structurally similar to penicillins with the presence of a ß-lactam ring; however, they are more resistant to ß-lactamase enzymes and have a broader spectrum of activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.