Question

Why would antibiotics that affect the ribosome kill bacteria without harming their host?

A. Antibiotics form different types of bonds with prokaryotic proteins and eukaryotic proteins, so only the interactions with prokaryotic proteins affect ribosome function.

B. Prokaryotic ribosomes have a different structure than eukaryotic ribosomes, so antibiotics that bind to one cannot bind to the other.

C.Eukaryotes are more complex than prokaryotes.

D. Fungi do not need to kill eukaryotes, only prokaryotes.

Answer 1

The correct answer is​​​​​ option B. Prokaryotic ribosomes have 70S subunit whereas eukaryotic ribosomes have 80S subunit (except mitochondria and chloroplast). Therefore, antibiotics designed for killing the bacteria by inhibiting the ribosome of prokaryotic wouldn't affect the eukaryotes because of difference in ribosomal structure. Hence, antibiotics specific for prokaryotic ribosomes are unable to bind with eukaryotic ribosomes, thus not affecting the host.