Question

Lysozyme, an enzyme found in human saliva, tears, and other secretions, catalyzes the hydrolysis of the β -1,4-glycosidic linkages in peptidoglycan. Predict the effect of this enzyme on bacteria.

a) Lysozyme, an enzyme found in human saliva, tears, and other secretions, catalyzes the hydrolysis of the -1,4-glycosidic linkages in peptidoglycan. Predict the effect of this enzyme on bacteria.
b) Lysozymes would promote the formation of cell walls by linking adjacent monomers, ensuring maintenance of healthy bacteria. The peptidoglycan would be converted to starch, providing fuel for the bacteria, causing them to grow, and potentially causing bacterial transfer from one organ to another.
c)The peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls begins to degrade, leading to the death of the bacteria and protecting against bacterial infections.
d) Lysozymes would cause the destruction of bacteria by causing the breakdown of carbohydrates into their individual atoms, providing a first layer of protection.

Answer 1

Lysozyme catalyzes the breakdown of the bacterial cell wall by hydrolyzing peptidoglycan, leading to the degradation of the cell wall, bacterial death, and protection against infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Effect of Lysozyme on Bacteria

Lysozyme is an enzyme that plays a significant role in the body’s immune system by attacking the structural component of bacterial cell walls, specifically the β-1,4-glycosidic linkages in peptidoglycan. Since peptidoglycan is unique to the cell walls of bacteria, the hydrolysis of these linkages by lysozyme leads to the degradation of the cell wall. As a result, this compromises the bacteria's structure, making them prone to osmotic pressure, which can cause the bacteria to rupture and die. Therefore, lysozyme aids in protecting the body against bacterial infections by breaking down the peptidoglycan layer in the bacterial cell walls, thereby causing cytolysis and preventing the spread of pathogens.

This mechanism of action is similar to how certain antibiotics work, targeting the synthesis of peptidoglycan to weaken bacterial cell walls. Moreover, immune system cells like macrophages utilize lysozyme during the phagocytosis process to degrade and destroy the engulfed bacteria.

Therefore, the predictable effect of lysozyme on bacteria is that it leads to bacterial cell wall degradation, resulting in the weakening or killing of the bacteria, which serves as a defense mechanism for the human body. The correct answer to the student's question would be option (c).