Which of the following is a primary action mechanism of aminoglycosides?

Aminoglycosides primarily exert their antimicrobial effects through the disruption of protein synthesis. They achieve this by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit of bacterial ribosomes, which interferes with the reading of mRNA. This binding leads to misreading of the mRNA code, resulting in the incorporation of incorrect amino acids into proteins, ultimately producing nonfunctional proteins. Additionally, this disruption of protein synthesis can also induce premature termination of the translation process, which severely impacts the bacterium's ability to produce essential proteins vital for its growth and survival. This mechanism is particularly effective against aerobic Gram-negative bacteria.

The other options describe different mechanisms of action utilized by other classes of antibiotics. For instance, inhibition of cell wall synthesis is characteristic of beta-lactams, while inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis pertains to drugs like fluoroquinolones. Interrupting metabolic pathways is associated with sulfonamides and trimethoprim. Understanding these specific mechanisms helps differentiate aminoglycosides from other antimicrobial agents and highlights the importance of protein synthesis disruption in bacterial inhibition.