Answer to Question #150657 in Organic Chemistry for gordi

Question

Explain the mechanism of inhibition of transpeptidase enzyme by penicillin.

Answer 1

Penicillin a competitive inhibitor which generally blocks the active site of an enzyme that many bacteria use to construct their cell. Through the beta-lactam ring, Penicillin binds irreversibly itself at the active site of the transpeptidase enzyme. Thus it inhibits  cross-linking activity of transpeptidase i.e inhibition of formation of peptidoglycan strands takes place. Finally the growth of the bacterial cell wall is inhibited. Please follow the mechanism.