Bacterial Cell Wall + Gram positive

What is the Bacterial Cell wall like? (2)

Semi rigid (solid but flexible) and gives cell its shape

What is the bacterial Cell Wall’s primary function? (1)

Prevent the cell from bursting due to enviromental changes (rupturing)

eg. from osmotic pressure

What is the cell wall useful for in identification? (1)

Gram stain

What macromolecule complex is the bacterial cell wall made of and what does it look like? (2)

• Peptidoglycan

• Mesh like made of polysaccharide and amino acids

The polysaccharide is made up of what two alternating monosaccharides? (2)

• NAG (N-acetyl glucosamine)

• NAM (n-acetyl muramic acid)

What is the peptide portion composed of? (1)

Short chains of amino acids (tetrapeptides)

What does peptidoglycan generally look like? (3)

• Polysaccharides run parallel

• tetra-peptides link polysaccharides together

• Forms a mesh like net around cell

What do gram positive bacterial cells have in their cell wall that gram negative bacteria doesnt have? (1)

Peptide interbridge

What is the gram positive cell wall made of? (3)

• Thick layers of peptidoglycan outside the membrane

• Wall teichoic acids attached to the peptidoglycan

• Lipoteichoic acids which are attached to the membrane and go extend through the peptidoglycan

How many membranes does gram positive bacteria have? (1)

Only one, the plasma membrane