Viruses use which of the following enzymes for the breakdown of the bacterial cell wall?
Correct answer: A. Lysozyme
- A. Lysozyme
- B. Lipases
- C. Proteases
- D. Nucleases
Explanation
Bacteriophages use lysozyme to destroy the bacterial cell wall because peptidoglycan is made of alternating NAG-NAM sugars linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds, and lysozyme specifically hydrolyzes these bonds, causing lysis. Lipases, proteases, and nucleases are ineffective since they act on lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, respectively, which are not the main structural components of the bacterial wall. For example, just as a key is designed to open a specific lock, lysozyme is the precise "key" for breaking peptidoglycan, while the other enzymes do not fit this purpose.
Last updated
Related questions
A bacteriophage is attached to the receptor site on the host cells:
A bacteriophage replicates only in a_ cell
A bacterium divides every 36 minutes. If a culture containing 105 cells/ml is grown for 180 minutes, what will be the cell concentration after that period?
A bite of tsetse fly may pass to humans
A capsid, the protective coat of a virus, is made up of subunits known as capsomeres that are _ in nature.