Final answer:
Antibacterial drugs that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis interfere with replication and transcription processes in bacteria, leading to their death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibacterial drugs that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis work by interfering with the replication and transcription processes in bacteria. For example, metronidazole inhibits DNA replication by interfering with the DNA synthesis in target cells. Rifampin, on the other hand, blocks the activity of RNA polymerase, preventing the transcription of genes in bacteria.
These drugs specifically target bacterial cells because the structure of their nucleic acid synthesizing enzymes, such as DNA gyrase and RNA polymerase, differ from those in eukaryotic cells. This difference in structure allows for selective toxicity against bacterial cells, without affecting host cells.
In summary, antibacterial drugs that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis interfere with the replication and transcription processes in bacteria, leading to their death. These drugs selectively target bacterial cells, thanks to the structural differences in their nucleic acid synthesizing enzymes, providing selective toxicity against bacteria.