Question

What is NOT the activity of the antibiotic rifampicin in fighting tuberculosis?

A. Binds close to the active site and blocks the formation of RNA beyond 2-3 nts.

B. Prevents exit of the growing RNA chain from RNAP itself.

C. It is in contact with nascent RNA past nucleotides 1-3.

D. Can be easily dislodged by other antibiotics.

Answer 1

Rifampicin, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis, blocks the initiation of RNA synthesis by binding to the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rifampicin, an antibiotic, is primarily used in the treatment of tuberculosis. However, it does not function by preventing the exit of the growing RNA chain from RNA polymerase (RNAP) itself. Instead, rifampicin binds to the beta-subunit of RNAP, which is responsible for initiating transcription, and blocks its activity. This prevents the initiation of RNA synthesis in bacteria.