Streptomycin is an antibiotic that interferes with the function of the 30S subunit of the prokaryotic ribosome. What is the consequence of treating a bacteria with streptomycin?

Streptomycin specifically targets the 30S subunit of the prokaryotic ribosome, which is crucial for the process of translation during protein synthesis. By binding to this subunit, streptomycin disrupts the accurate reading of the mRNA code and interferes with the assembly of amino acids into proteins. As a result, the synthesis of polypeptides is hindered, leading to a decrease in the production of essential proteins needed for bacterial growth and survival. This impairment of protein synthesis ultimately affects various cellular functions, rendering the bacteria less viable or even causing cell death.

In contrast to this, the other choices do not directly relate to the mechanism of action of streptomycin. Increased vitamin absorption, enhanced reproduction, and cell wall synthesis involve processes that are not directly affected by the interference with ribosomal function. Therefore, the most direct and significant consequence of streptomycin treatment is indeed the impairment of protein synthesis.