Final answer:
Aminoglycoside modifying enzymes inactivate aminoglycosides by chemically altering the drugs, preventing their binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit in bacteria, which leads to bacterial resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AMEs) are known to render aminoglycosides ineffective by chemically altering the drug molecule. Aminoglycosides, which include drugs like streptomycin and gentamicin, typically bind to the 30S ribosomal subunit of bacterial cells.
By doing so, they impair the proofreading ability of the ribosome during protein synthesis, which in turn leads to the production of dysfunctional proteins. Misfolding and improper assembly of these proteins can disrupt the cytoplasmic membrane, ultimately killing the bacterial cells.
Nevertheless, AMEs inactivate aminoglycosides by transferring chemical groups such as acetyl, phosphate, or adenyl groups to the drug, which prevents them from binding to the ribosomal subunit and thereby confers resistance to the bacteria against these antibiotics.