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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.
    
==Spectrum of Activity==
 
==Spectrum of Activity==
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