Explain why an antibiotic you might take can target and inhibit translation in bacteria (prokaryotes), but not affect translation in your own eukaryotic cells.
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One such process is translation, which is the synthesis of proteins from mRNA. In prokaryotes, translation occurs in the cytoplasm using 70S ribosomes, which are composed of a 50S and a 30S subunit. In eukaryotes, translation occurs in the cytoplasm as well, but Show more…
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Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have ribosomes, but some antibiotics specifically target prokaryotic ribosomes. How is it possible to use these antibiotics to treat human diseases and how do they affect eukaryotic cells?
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Prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea, which are adapted to most environments because they differ in the many ways they acquire and utilize resources. Some prokaryotes move by means of flagella. Many prokaryotes adhere to surfaces by means of pili. Prokaryotic cells lack the membranous organelles of eukaryotic cells. The nucleoid is a dense area in prokaryotes where the chromosome is located; it is a single circular strand of DNA. Plasmids are accessory rings of DNA found in some prokaryotes; they can be extracted and used as vectors to carry foreign DNA into bacteria during genetic engineering procedures. Protein synthesis in prokaryotic cells is carried out by ribosomes. Binary fission is the splitting of a parent cell into two daughter cells; it is a form of asexual reproduction in prokaryotes. Prokaryotes have a simple chromosome and cell structure. In prokaryotes, genetic recombination can occur in three ways. Conjugation occurs when a bacterium passes DNA to a second bacterium through a tube (pilus) that temporarily joins two cells; this occurs only between bacteria in the same or closely related species. Transformation involves bacteria taking up free pieces of DNA from their surrounding medium, which has been secreted by live bacteria or released by dead bacteria. Transduction occurs when bacteriophages transfer portions of bacterial DNA from one cell to another. Bacteria (and archaea) have three basic cell shapes: spirilla, bacilli, and cocci. Archaea are prokaryotes with molecular characteristics that distinguish them from bacteria and eukaryotes; their RNA base sequence is different from that in bacteria. Some archaea live under anaerobic environments (e.g., marshes) where they produce methane. Others require high salt concentrations (e.g., Great Salt Lake). Some live under hot, acidic environments (e.g., geysers). The relationship with bacteria can be mutualistic, where both species benefit from the association.
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The discovery of the antibiotic Penicillin in the 1920s made a big impact on human history. Not only did it provide a cure for bacterial infections that were once deadly, but it also led to a golden age in discovery of new antibiotics. The great benefit of these drugs is that antibiotics inhibit the growth of bacterial cells or kill them outright, and yet, on the whole, do not harm eukaryotic cells. Answer BOTH of the following questions: Given the following list of antibiotics Penicillin Blocks cell wall synthesis Tetracycline Blocks protein synthesis by binding to the 30S Unit of the ribosome Chloramphenicol Blocks protein synthesis by binding to the 50S Unit of the ribosome Sulfonamides Inhibit folic acid synthesis Vancomycin and their targets, explain how each stops bacteria without harming human cells. Base your analyses on the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Considering the targets of these antibiotics, explain why antibiotics in general would not be useful for treating a viral infection.
Madhur L.
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