Final answer:
Penicillin inhibits the formation of peptidoglycan subunits by interfering with the transpeptidase enzyme, while Cephalosporin hinders the elongation of the peptidoglycan, both through their beta-lactam structures that disrupt bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question which compounds inhibit the formation of the basic peptidoglycan subunits and which hinder the elongation of the peptidoglycan is C. Penicillin; Cephalosporin. Penicillin inhibits the formation of the basic peptidoglycan subunits by interfering with the final stages of the synthesis of the peptidoglycan, more specifically, it inhibits the transpeptidase enzyme that cross-links the peptide chains attached to the backbone of the peptidoglycan. Cephalosporin hinders the elongation of the peptidoglycan by a similar mechanism to penicillin, as it also belongs to the beta-lactam class of antibiotics, which disrupt the cell wall synthesis in bacteria.
Tetracyclines, such as the mentioned tetracycline, do not directly interfere with peptidoglycan synthesis but rather inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit and blocking the binding of tRNA, which is essential for protein synthesis. However, that is not the correct context for this specific question, as it is not associated with the inhibition or elongation process of peptidoglycan. Therefore, options A, B, and D are incorrect in the context of the question about peptidoglycan subunit formation and elongation.