The antibiotic penicillin inhibits the ability of bacteria to?

[Deborah]

A. synthesize protein.
B. copy DNA.
C. undergo respiration.
D. absorb water.
E. make cell walls.

[ladypam]

A definite E. Penicillin acts on the cell wall of bacteria and inhibits the formation of the cell wall. This happens in several steps. First, a penicillin binding protein (PBP) crosslinks precursors on the cell wall. Pencillin then enters the bacterial cell through porins in the cell wall and binds to PBP. This causes the release of several substances that work on breaking down the cell wall. PBP cannot also produce the proteins responsible for the integrity of the cell wall, thus the cell wall gets weaker and then destroyed.

Hope this helps!