How does penicillin work?

Question

How does penicillin work?

Answer 1

penicillin inhibits the formation of cell wall of bacteria. It inhibits the formation of peptidoglycan which forms the bacterial cell wall. So, it causes bacteria to die or lyse due to osmotic pressure.  

Answer 2

Penicillin  works by inhibiting the formation of peptidoglycan cross-links in the bacterial cell wall. The β-lactam moiety (functional group) of penicillin binds to the enzyme (DD-transpeptidase) that links the peptidoglycan molecules in bacteria, which weakens the cell wall of the bacterium (in other words, the antibiotic causes cytolysis or death due to osmotic pressure). In addition, the build-up of peptidoglycan precursors triggers the activation of bacterial cell wall hydrolases and autolysins, which further digest the bacteria's existing peptidoglycan.

Answer 3

Bacteria (germs that cause disease) have cell walls similar to cellulose. Penicillin destroys the cell walls of bacteria.