A Scientist Wishes to Develop an Antimicrobial Agent That Specifically

question 20

Multiple Choice

A scientist wishes to develop an antimicrobial agent that specifically targets replication elongation in Escherichia coli without interfering with proteins that catalyze other replication processes.Which of the following experimental designs is most appropriate for the scientist to explore?

• A)Develop a molecule that interferes with the DNA-binding ability of DNA polymerase III core enzyme.
• B)Modify an existing antibiotic to act as a competitive inhibitor of DNA polymerase I.
• C)Design a drug that modifies the structural configuration of DNA at the oriC locus.
• D)Create a novel protein that acts as a competitive inhibitor of the DNA ligase binding site.

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Definitions:

Polypeptide Chain

A linear sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, forming an essential part of the structure and function of proteins.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak bonds between molecules or within them, involving a hydrogen atom and a more electronegative atom, important in the structure of DNA and proteins.

Secondary Structure

The level of protein structure describing the regular local structures formed by hydrogen bonds between the backbone amide and carboxyl groups, such as alpha-helices and beta-sheets.

Hydrophilic End

The part of a molecule that is attracted to water and can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, often found in compounds like detergents.