Which antimicrobial inhibits protein synthesis?

Which antimicrobial inhibits protein synthesis?

• A. Gentamicin
• B. Methicillin
• C. Rifampin
• D. Ampicillin

Answer: (A)

Protein synthesis inhibitors stop bacteria from making new proteins by targeting the ribosome. Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside, binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit and causes misreading of mRNA while blocking the initiation of protein synthesis, which often leads to bacterial death. The other options act differently: methicillin and ampicillin are beta-lactams that inhibit cell wall synthesis, and rifampin blocks transcription by inhibiting RNA polymerase. Therefore, the antimicrobial that inhibits protein synthesis is Gentamicin.

Protein synthesis inhibitors stop bacteria from making new proteins by targeting the ribosome. Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside, binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit and causes misreading of mRNA while blocking the initiation of protein synthesis, which often leads to bacterial death. The other options act differently: methicillin and ampicillin are beta-lactams that inhibit cell wall synthesis, and rifampin blocks transcription by inhibiting RNA polymerase. Therefore, the antimicrobial that inhibits protein synthesis is Gentamicin.