Which enzyme is responsible for digesting the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls?

Lysozyme

The correct answer is Option (3) → Lysozyme

In bacterial cells, the enzyme responsible for digesting the cell membrane is called lysozyme. Lysozyme is an enzyme that breaks down the peptidoglycan layer, which is a major component of the bacterial cell wall. By targeting and hydrolyzing the bonds in the peptidoglycan, lysozyme weakens the cell wall, causing the bacterial cell to lose its structural integrity and leading to cell lysis or bursting. This process is essential in various biological contexts, including the host defense against bacterial infections and in recombinant DNA technology during the isolation of plasmids from bacterial cells.

Cellulase: Cellulase is an enzyme that breaks down cellulose, a complex carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants  It is not used to digest bacterial cell membranes.

Chitinase: Chitinase is an enzyme that breaks down chitin, a structural polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and some bacteria. It is not commonly used to digest bacterial cell membranes.

Ligase is an enzyme that can join or "ligate" DNA fragments together. After the DNA is cut by restriction enzymes, ligase is used to seal the gaps and connect the DNA fragments. This process is essential in creating recombinant DNA molecules, where DNA from different sources is combined.