Question

Which of the following statement is/are true about mycoplasmas?

• A. They can survive without oxygen.
• B. They are resistant to penicillin.
• C. They are smallest, cell wall less prokaryote.
• D. All of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is D All of the above.

Mycoplasmas measures less than 1 micrometer and thus, is the smallest prokaryotic organism that lack cell wall but have rigid plasma membrane rich in sterols and lipoglycans. Option C is correct. The cell walls of bacteria are composed of peptidoglycan chains which are cross-linked by short peptide fragments to provide a strong but flexible support framework. Penicillin target the peptide cross-links in the peptidoglycan and make the bacteria highly susceptible to lysis by disrupting the cell wall integrity. Absence of cell wall in mycoplasmas makes them penicillin resistant. Option B is correct. They are facultative anaerobes which allow them to carry out aerobic respiration in presence of oxygen and anaerobic respiration in its absence, i.e., they can survive without oxygen. Option A is correct. Thus, the correct answer is option D.