The primary molecular target of diphtheria toxin is the inhibition of:
Solution
Correct Answer: Option C
- Diphtheria toxin exerts its effect by inactivating elongation factor 2 (EF-2), a crucial protein in the protein synthesis process.
- It does so through ADP-ribosylation of EF-2, which halts translation and thus prevents the elongation of the polypeptide chain.
- This mechanism stops protein synthesis in the host cell, leading to cell death.
- The other options do not relate to diphtheria toxin’s mode of action.
Reference: Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th Edition, Chapter 48
- It does so through ADP-ribosylation of EF-2, which halts translation and thus prevents the elongation of the polypeptide chain.
- This mechanism stops protein synthesis in the host cell, leading to cell death.
- The other options do not relate to diphtheria toxin’s mode of action.
Reference: Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th Edition, Chapter 48
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