The target of penicillin in bacterial cells is ______.

• A. the bacterial DNA gyrase
• B. the synthesis of peptidoglycan in the cell wall
• C. the bacterial ribosome
• D. the plasma membrane phospholipids

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that penicillin is an antibiotic that targets a specific component of bacterial cells to inhibit their growth or kill them.
2. Recall that penicillin interferes with the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, which is essential for maintaining cell shape and integrity.
3. Identify that the bacterial cell wall is primarily composed of peptidoglycan, a polymer that provides structural strength.
4. Recognize that penicillin inhibits the enzymes involved in the cross-linking of peptidoglycan strands, thereby preventing proper cell wall synthesis.
5. Conclude that the target of penicillin is the synthesis of peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall, not DNA gyrase, ribosomes, or plasma membrane phospholipids.