Chloramphenicol Targets Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis

Steps:

• Chloramphenicol inhibits protein synthesis in mitochondria, disrupting ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation.
• Mitochondrial proteins are essential for the electron transport chain, so inhibition reduces ATP yield.
• Nuclear DNA transcription occurs in the nucleus and uses cytoplasmic ribosomes, unaffected by the antibiotic.
• Thus, ATP production decreases while nuclear transcription remains unchanged.

Why A is correct:

• It matches the selective inhibition: mitochondrial ATP synthesis declines, but cytoplasmic/nuclear processes continue normally.

Why the others are wrong:

• B: Nuclear transcription is not inhibited, as it relies on eukaryotic ribosomes.
• C: ATP production decreases, not increases, due to mitochondrial impairment.
• D: ATP production is affected by mitochondrial protein synthesis inhibition.

Final answer: A