Question

Which of the following is a characteristic of Penicillins, a group of antibiotics known as Beta-lactams?

Option 1: Amino glycoside structure
Option 2: Inhibition of DNA gyrase
Option 3: Presence of a beta-lactam ring
Option 4: Targeting the 50S ribosomal subunit

Answer 1

Penicillins, belonging to the Beta-lactam class of antibiotics, are characterized by the presence of a beta-lactam ring, essential for their antibacterial action of inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic of Penicillins, which are part of the Beta-lactams class of antibiotics, is the presence of a beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure. This ring is essential for the antibiotic's mechanism of action, which is inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall by targeting the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) that are involved in the cross-linking of the peptidoglycan layers. Penicillins, like other Beta-lactam antibiotics, are effective due to this structural similarity, which allows them to interfere with the cell wall synthesis in bacteria. Over time, various modifications to the 'R' group attached to this core structure have generated a range of penicillin derivatives with diversified properties, such as increased spectrum of activity against gram-negative pathogens, acid stability, and resistance to ß-lactamase degradation.