Paroi bactérienne, membrane cytoplasmique et pénicilline

Bacterial transpeptidases specifically recognize peptide donor, peptide acceptor and β-lactam antibiotics. The identification of the chemical modifications undergone by the antibiotic during its interaction with the enzyme and the characterization of the enzyme centers involved in hydrolysis, transpeptidation and breakdown of the antibiotic molecule are the next problems which must be solved in order to fully understand how penicillin kills bacteria.