Final answer:
Peptidoglycan synthesis in cocci occurs primarily at the septum formation site and is crucial for cell wall strength and bacterial growth. Since peptidoglycan is unique to bacteria, it serves as a target for antibiotic drugs that mimic D-amino acids to disrupt the cell wall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a vital component of bacterial cell walls. In bacterial cells, such as cocci, peptidoglycan synthesis principally occurs at the site of septum formation.
The septum is where the bacteria will eventually divide, and thus it is a key growth zone. Peptidoglycan consists of polysaccharide chains cross-linked by unusual peptides, which contain both L- and D-amino acids.
This structure provides significant two-dimensional tensile strength to the cell wall and is unique to bacteria, making it a target for antibiotics. The amino acids D-glutamic acid and D-alanine are often found in these cross-links.
Many antibiotics function by mimicking the structure of the D-amino acids, thereby disrupting bacterial cell wall development and making the bacteria susceptible to osmotic pressure.