Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Inactivate Bacteria Because They

Question

Quaternary ammonium compounds inactivate bacteria because they
A) Alter metabolic properties of membranes
B)Bind irreversibly to DNA
C)Denature proteins
D)Inactivate 50S ribosomes
E)Oxidize free sulfhydryl groups

Accepted Answer

The hydrophobic and lipophilic portions of quaternary ammonium compounds react with the lipid components of the bacterial membrane so that it can no longer perform its normal metabolic and permeability functions, thus killing the cell.