Final answer:
Exoenzymes enable bacteria to hydrolyze large nutrient molecules, breaking them down into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the cell. This is done through biochemical reactions that require the addition of water to break molecular bonds. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exoenzymes allow bacteria to hydrolyze large nutrient molecules into smaller molecules that can be transported into the cell. The correct answer to the student's question is B) Hydrolyze. In biological processes, hydrolysis is a critical reaction that involves the breaking of bonds in molecules with the addition of water.
This is how bacteria can process large, insoluble nutrients outside the cell, converting them into smaller, soluble forms that are then suitable for absorption.
For example, bacteria produce exoenzymes like proteases and lipases that break down proteins and lipids, respectively, into their constituent amino acids and fatty acids which can be easily transported across the cell membrane.
In this way, bacteria can obtain the necessary nutrients for their growth and sustenance from the surrounding environment.
Phospholipases, another type of exoenzyme discussed, play a role in pathogenesis by degrading the phospholipids in cell membranes, allowing the bacteria to invade host cells or escape immune system defenses, such as the extracellular DNA nets produced by phagocytes. The correct option is B.