Question

question 8 of 15
how do streptomycin and similar antibiotics affect prokaryotic cells?
○ these antibiotics interfere with dna replication.
○ these antibiotics interfere with cell membrane integrity.
○ these antibiotics interfere with cell wall formation.
○ these antibiotics interfere with peptidoglycan formation.
○ these antibiotics interfere with protein synthesis.

Explanation:

Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that binds to the 30S subunit of prokaryotic ribosomes, disrupting the initiation and elongation steps of protein synthesis, which is essential for prokaryotic cell function and survival. The other options describe mechanisms of different antibiotic classes (e.g., DNA replication for quinolones, cell wall/peptidoglycan for beta-lactams, membrane integrity for polymyxins).

Answer:

These antibiotics interfere with protein synthesis.