Which of the following statements best describes what happens to a cell exposed to polymyxins that destroy phospholipids? a. In an isotonic solution, nothing will happen. b. In a hypotonic solution, the cell will lyse. c. Water will move into the cell. d. Intracellular contents will leak from the cell. e. Any of the above might happen.
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Step 1: Understand the mechanism of action of polymyxins. Polymyxins are antibiotics that target and disrupt the phospholipid components of the bacterial cell membrane, compromising its integrity.
Step 2: Recognize that phospholipids are essential for maintaining the cell membrane's selective permeability and structural stability. When polymyxins destroy phospholipids, the membrane becomes damaged and leaky.
Step 3: Analyze the consequences of membrane damage. A compromised membrane allows intracellular contents to leak out because the barrier that normally contains these substances is disrupted.
Step 4: Consider the effect of the surrounding solution's tonicity. While tonicity affects water movement, the primary effect of polymyxin-induced membrane damage is leakage of cell contents rather than osmotic swelling or shrinking.
Step 5: Conclude that the best description of what happens to a cell exposed to polymyxins is that intracellular contents leak from the cell due to membrane disruption.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Mechanism of Action of Polymyxins
Polymyxins are antibiotics that target and disrupt the phospholipid components of bacterial cell membranes, increasing membrane permeability. This disruption compromises the membrane's integrity, leading to leakage of intracellular contents and ultimately cell death.
Phospholipids form the fundamental bilayer structure of cell membranes, providing a selective barrier that controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. Damage to phospholipids weakens this barrier, causing loss of membrane function and leakage of cellular materials.
Osmotic conditions (isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic) influence water movement across membranes. However, if the membrane is compromised by agents like polymyxins, the primary effect is leakage of cell contents rather than osmotic swelling or shrinking.