How do beta lactams kill bacteria?
1 Answer
They stop the cell wall from forming
Explanation:
Bacteria are normally covered with a petidoglycan cell wall. Now normally the molecule that is involved in the process of building this cell wall is open to bind d alanyl- d alenine. By binding to this, the cell wall is made. Beta lactams look just like this d-alanyl d alenine, they are analogues, spot on. The molecule binds to the beta lactam and not what it's supposed to. The bacteria then doesn't have a cell wall, and having no structure or protection, dies, very confused.
Beta lactam is an analogue of the wall building substance and confuses the molecule. To put it another way, it's like standing in line to meet a movie star and seeing his stunt double and leaving with him instead. You ruin the line by chasing after a look alike.
