Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)

Definition

Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are a group of enzymes found in bacterial cell membranes that are essential for synthesizing and remodeling the cell wall. They are the target sites for beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. PBPs play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of bacterial cell walls.
2. Beta-lactam antibiotics inhibit PBPs, leading to weakened cell walls and bacterial lysis.
3. Mutations in PBPs can lead to antibiotic resistance by reducing the binding affinity of beta-lactam drugs.
4. Different bacteria have multiple types of PBPs with varying affinities for penicillins and other beta-lactams.
5. The discovery of PBPs was crucial in understanding how penicillin and related antibiotics exert their bactericidal effects.

Review Questions

• What is the primary function of penicillin-binding proteins in bacteria?
• How do beta-lactam antibiotics interact with PBPs?
• Why do mutations in PBPs contribute to antibiotic resistance?

Related terms

Beta-Lactam Antibiotics:

A class of antibiotics that includes penicillin, which inhibits PBPs.

Cell Wall Synthesis: The process by which bacteria build their protective outer wall, involving PBPs.

Antibiotic Resistance:

The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic, often through mutations in targets like PBPs.