Which antibiotics are primarily responsible for inhibiting protein synthesis?

Aminoglycosides are primarily responsible for inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria. They target the bacterial ribosome, specifically binding to the 30S subunit, leading to misreading of mRNA and ultimately resulting in the production of faulty proteins. This inhibition of protein synthesis disrupts critical cellular functions, making aminoglycosides effective as antibiotics against certain types of bacterial infections.

Other classes of antibiotics listed, such as quinolones and penicillins, work through different mechanisms. Quinolones inhibit DNA gyrase or topoisomerase, affecting DNA replication and repair processes, while penicillins disrupt bacterial cell wall synthesis. Sulphonamides, on the other hand, interfere with folic acid synthesis through competitive inhibition of an enzyme involved in the bacterial metabolic pathway. Thus, aminoglycosides stand out as the primary class that directly targets the synthesis of proteins in bacteria.