Antimicrobial agents that damage nucleic acids also affect which of the following cellular processes?

• A. Cell wall synthesis
• B. DNA replication and transcription
• C. ATP production in mitochondria
• D. Protein folding

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that nucleic acids refer to DNA and RNA, which are essential for storing and transmitting genetic information in cells.
2. Recognize that processes directly involving nucleic acids include DNA replication (copying DNA) and transcription (synthesizing RNA from DNA).
3. Recall that cell wall synthesis involves building the cell wall components, which is unrelated to nucleic acids and instead involves enzymes and structural molecules like peptidoglycan.
4. Note that ATP production in mitochondria primarily involves the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation, which are metabolic processes not directly dependent on nucleic acids.
5. Understand that protein folding is the process by which proteins attain their functional three-dimensional structure, which occurs after translation and is not directly affected by damage to nucleic acids.