Bacterial cell wall

Bacterial Cell Wall

Maintains cell shape and prevents cell lysis by withstanding high osmotic pressure.

Peptidoglycan

A polymer consisting of sugar and amino acids that forms the structural component of bacterial cell walls.

N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG)

A component of the peptidoglycan that connects chains of sugars in the bacterial cell wall.

N-acetyl muranic acid (NAM)

Another component of the peptidoglycan that, along with NAG, forms the backbone of the bacterial cell wall.

Gram Positive Bacteria

Characterized by a thick layer of peptidoglycan (90%), measuring 20-80 nm thick, which contains teichoic acids.

Gram Negative Bacteria

Characterized by a thin layer of peptidoglycan (2 nm thick) and an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides.

Lipid A

A component of lipopolysaccharides in Gram-negative bacteria that acts as an endotoxin.

Periplasm

The space between the bacterial cell membrane and the outer membrane in Gram-negative cells.

Cell Wall Function

Prevent cell lysis and support osmotic pressure, acting like a dam to keep water in.

Susceptibility to Antibiotics

Gram positive and Gram negative cells exhibit different levels of susceptibility to antibiotics and enzymes due to their cell wall structure.