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.
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About Biodiversity and Variety of Life
Biological classification uses taxonomic ranks, binomial nomenclature and shared characteristics to organize life into kingdoms. The major groups include prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants and animals, with comparisons based on cell type, cell wall, nutrition, body organization, reproduction and evolutionary relationships; prokaryotes lack a membrane-bound nucleus.
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