Four colorful panels depicting abstract microscopic biology. Top left shows an orange cell-like structure. Top right shows blue and orange molecular clusters. Bottom left shows intertwined orange and blue strands with molecules. Bottom right shows blue molecules over a green wavy surface.

*Inhibiting cell wall synthesis* * β-lactam antibiotics bind to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) → stop peptidoglycan cross-linking → cell bursts. * Show peptidoglycan structure and β-lactam binding. 2. *Inhibiting protein synthesis* * Tetracyclines bind to bacterial ribosomes (30S subunit). * Contrast with eukaryotic ribosomes — why humans aren’t affected as much. 3. *Inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis* * Quinolones block DNA gyrase/topoisomerase. 4. *Disrupting cell membranes* * Polymyxins bind to lipopolysaccharides in Gram-negative bacteria. ---- four different pictures with these mechanisms See more