Final answer:
During the lytic cycle, phage enzymes degrade the host bacterium's DNA to halt its normal functions and redirect resources to produce new phages, leading to cell lysis and release of viral particles.
Step-by-step explanation:
During a lytic replication cycle, a phage ensures that its host bacterium does not continue synthesizing cellular molecules by using phage enzymes to degrade the bacterial DNA. This action prevents the host from conducting its normal cellular processes and diverts the cellular machinery towards the production of new phages. The lytic cycle involves the phage replicating inside the host cell and ultimately leading to the cell's lysis, or bursting, to release the new viral particles. The mentioned phage enzymes such as virus-encoded endonucleases play a critical role in this process. Unlike the lytic cycle, the lysogenic cycle involves the integration of the phage DNA into the host genome, which can lead to the phage DNA being replicated along with the host's DNA during normal cell division. Environmental stressors can cause the prophage to exit the lysogenic cycle and enter the lytic cycle.