Sandbox Reserved 988: Difference between revisions

[[Image:Beta-lactam.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-lactam_antibiotic β-lactam antibiotic] ([http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin Penicillin])]]Clinically, [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-lactam_antibiotic β-lactam antibiotics], characterized by their central chemical structure, are utilized to combat bacterial infections by targeting [http://proteopedia.org/wiki/index.php/Penicillin-binding_protein penicillin-binding proteins] (PBPs), also known as [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD-transpeptidase transpeptidases]. PBPs are enzymes that are located in the cell membrane of bacteria and function in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-link cross-linking] to form the [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peptidoglycan peptidoglycan] layer of the bacterial cell wall. <ref>"Peptidoglycan cell wall." The University of Warwick. n.d. Web. 25 Jan 15</ref> This cross-linking process strengthens the cell wall and enables the bacteria to resist osmotic pressure from its external environment.