Which class of antibiotics is known to interfere with protein synthesis?

Clindamycin is the correct answer because it belongs to the class of antibiotics known as lincosamides, which specifically target bacterial ribosomes and inhibit protein synthesis. By binding to the 50S subunit of the ribosomal RNA, clindamycin disrupts the peptidyl transferase activity, thus effectively preventing bacteria from synthesizing essential proteins that are necessary for their growth and reproduction.

In contrast, other classes of antibiotics listed function through different mechanisms. For example, ceftazidime is a third-generation cephalosporin that disrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis, thereby inhibiting cell growth but not directly affecting protein synthesis. Vancomycin also targets the bacterial cell wall but does so by binding to D-alanyl-D-alanine, which is integral to peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Lastly, penicillin operates similarly to vancomycin and ceftazidime by inhibiting cell wall synthesis through the disruption of transpeptidation enzymes.

Thus, clindamycin's specific action in inhibiting protein synthesis distinguishes it as the appropriate choice in this context.