Question

In: Biology

Antibiotics are routinely used to control bacterial infections. Would compounds targeting the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria...

Antibiotics are routinely used to control bacterial infections. Would compounds targeting the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria be useful as antibiotics? Explain the reason behind your answer?(HINT: Think about the concept of selective toxicity)

Solutions

Expert Solution

  • Modes of action of antibiotics needs to be selective so that they can specifically act against the pathogen and not on the host (humans).
  • Thus, if an compound is designated as an antibiotic it is necessary to have selective toxicity. This implies that the compound needs to selectively target components present in prokaryotes or the specific pathogen and absent in eukaryotes.
  • Peptidoglycan is a component specific to the prokaryotic cell wall.
  • The cell wall of bacteria are made up of peptidoglycan.
  • Peptidoglycan comprises a protein with glycan, making peptidoglycam or murein molecule, which forms a polymer by inter-linking.
  • Glycan comprises of alternative NAG (N-acetylglucosamine) and NAM (N-acetylmuramic acid).
  • These are attached with L and D amino acids. These linkages involve transglycosylase and transpeptidase enzyme activities.
  • Beta-lactam antibiotics act by binding to PBP (Penicillin binding protein) of Petidoglycan layer and preventing peptidoglycan cross-linkage.
  • Penicillin is specific in targeting bacterial cell (more effective against Gram-positive bacteria), as it inhibits cell wall synthesis of the bacterial cell.
  • When bacterial cells try to divide by binary fission, new cell wall formation is required, which is prevented by penicillin.
  • Hence, bacterial cells cannot divide, causing a bacteriostatic effect.
  • Since, cell wall synthesis is disrupted; the bacterial cell is unable to withstand osmotic pressure, swells and ruptures, causing the bacteriocidal effect.
  • Gram-negative bacteria have thin peptidoglycan layer surrounded by lipopolysaccharide layer or outer membrane.
  • Thus, the outer membrane prevents the entry of penicillin and act on peptidigycan layer of Gram negative cells. Like E. coli.
  • Thus, compounds acting on peptidoglycan have selective toxicity and can be considered as antibiotics.

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