Question

In order to develop antibiotics, scientists need to understand how bacteria grow, divide, and spread during an infection. An essential part of bacterial growth is RNA synthesis because RNA must be synthesized before proteins can be assembled. If RNA synthesis is blocked, bacteria will not be able to survive and reproduce.

Which of the following questions will best direct an investigation on how an antibiotic that inhibits RNA synthesis in bacteria can be developed?

A. Which chemical compounds add a hydroxyl (–OH) group to the growing RNA strand?

B. Which proteins are used to undergo cell division through binary fission?

C. Which chemical compounds block the 5’ end of the growing RNA strand?

D. Which chemical compounds block the 3’ end of a growing RNA strand?

Answer 1

The most direct question for investigating the development of an antibiotic that inhibits RNA synthesis is which compounds block the 5' end of the growing RNA strand, relevant to how drugs like rifampin work against bacteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of developing an antibiotic that inhibits RNA synthesis, the best question to guide the investigation would be 'C. Which chemical compounds block the 5’ end of the growing RNA strand?' This question directly relates to the mechanism by which RNA synthesis can be inhibited, which is crucial for the antibiotic's effectiveness against bacteria. The 5’ end is where the RNA polymerase begins to synthesize RNA, and by blocking it, the process can be effectively halted. Inhibitors like rifampin function by blocking RNA polymerase activity in bacteria, thus providing a specific target for new antibiotics. By understanding the process of transcription and how drugs like rifamycins inhibit nucleic acid synthesis, scientists can design molecules that target these pathways, leading to the creation of new antibiotics with precise mechanisms of action.

Answer 2

To develop antibiotics that inhibit RNA synthesis in bacteria, scientists need to investigate which chemical compounds block specific parts of the growing RNA strand.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to develop antibiotics that inhibit RNA synthesis in bacteria, scientists need to investigate which chemical compounds block specific parts of the growing RNA strand. The best question to direct this investigation would be: Which chemical compounds block the 3’ end of a growing RNA strand?