Knowing the steps of prokaryotic transcription, propose an idea for a new antibi
ID: 224553 • Letter: K
Question
Knowing the steps of prokaryotic transcription, propose an idea for a new antibiotic t at would block bacteria from carrying out transcription (in order to kill them). a. Specify which of the bacterial cell s molecules your antibiotic would bind to, and what that molecule would be unable to do when the antibiotic is bound to It. b. Discuss how/why this would Impact transcription - which step(s) would not be able to occur? c. Explain why this drug would not inhibit eukaryotic transcription. Suppose you need to block eukaryotic gene expression without interfering with transcription or translation. One way to do this is by blocking the RNA export complex (as we did in the ore-lab). Review chapters 8 and 9 and propose another way you could do this. Explain your reasoning.Explanation / Answer
Answers 6.
(a) The antibiotics mainly target on pathways such as:
DNA synthesis by targeting DNA gyrase or DNA topoisomerase (an enzyme helps in the unwinding of DNA for replication and transcription.
RNA synthesis by targeting ribosomes (which consists of 50S and 30S subunits), and DNA-directed RNA polymerase, which helps in the synthesis of proteins/ transcription by targeting on the RNA primary transcript.
Cell wall synthesis :The bacterial cell is enclosed by layers of peptidoglycan, which provide the mechanical strength to the bacteria . Antibiotics inhibits the production of this molecule which thereby prevents their survival.
(b) Each antibiotic targets different molecules.
E.g: Aminoglycosides and tetracyclines targets on the 30S ribosomal subumit. Macrolides and clindamycin targets on 50S ribosomal subunit. Therefore there is no protein synthesis. Rifampicin targets on the RNA polymerase, thereby inhibition the primary mRNA transcript production. Penicillin and glycopeptides inhibit the cell wall synthesis.Quinolones inhibits the DNA gyrases which prevents the unwinding for DNA replication and transcription.
(c) The drugs show a phenomenon called selective toxicity. The bacterial cells are different from that of eukaryotic cells in their biochemistry, anatomy etc. For example as mentioned in the answer (b) Aminoglycosides and tetracyclines targets on the 30S ribosomal subunit. Macrolides and clindamycin targets on 50S ribosomal subunit. But eukaryotes have 40S and 60S subunits. Eukaryotic cell wall doesn't have peptidoglycans in their cell wall. Theirfore these antibiotics doesn't have any effect on eukaryotic cells.
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