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| + | [[Penicillin.png|right|250px|The Core Structure of Penicillin]] |
| ==Mechanism of Action== | | ==Mechanism of Action== |
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| + | Penicillins are '''β-Lactam''' antibiotics. This means that they interfere with the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a crucial component of the bacterial cell wall. Penicillins bind to proteins on the bacteria and then inhibit a transpeptidation enzyme, whose role is to cross-link peptides attached to the peptiglycan backbone. This weakens the bacterial cell wall integrity. |
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| + | The penicillins also inactivate an inhibitor of autolytic enzymes present in the cell wall, thus resulting in lysis of the bacterium. |
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| ==Spectrum of Activity== | | ==Spectrum of Activity== |