Penicillin activity on bacteria in different conditions

[klapausius]

Q2
Although penicillin inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis, bacterial cells will continue to grow normally in the presence of penicillin in a(n) ____ environment
1. Hypotonic
2. Isotonic
3. Hypertonic
4. Nonpolar

my guess is (3) hypertonic, as bacteria can still survive and not shrink in that cond. as they posses cell wall also in that cond., the penicillin will not be able to enter the cell
im not sure if my explanations are correct, pls help me thanx

[JackBean]

I would say isotonic because in such enviroment they won't rupture, althrough their cell wall will be broken?

[klapausius]

so you are saying they would still survive w/o the cell wall as they still have an intact plasma membrane?
thanx jack

[biohazard]

Many cell-walled cells (including bacteria) can survive with only their plasma membrane intact in isotonic environments.

They even have a name for such a cell: a spheroblast, which is quite descriptive actually. Without the cell wall supporting the cell, even bacteria of different shapes tend to become round, because it is mostly the cell wall that gives them a shape.

[klapausius]

thank you biohazard, really appreciate yr explaination! now i understand better