Microbiology

Structure Function
Biol 370 Campbell
9/18/13

Cell Wall
Peptidoglycan
What does the name tell you about the chemical nature
of the cell wall?

Differences Between Gram-Positive

and Gram-Negative Bacterial Cell
Walls
Gram-Negative
One layer
Direct connections

Gram-Positive
Multilayer
Polyglycine interbridges
Teichoic and lipoteichoic acids

Gram-Positive envelopes

The Gram-Positive Envelope

Capsule (not all species)
Polysaccharide

S Layer (not all species)

Made of protein

Thick cell wall

9-amino acid crosslinks in
peptidoglycan
Teichoic acids for strength

Thin periplasm
Plasma membrane

The Gram-Negative Envelope

Capsule (not all species)
Polysaccharide

Outer Membrane
Lipopolysaccharide
In outer leaflet only

Thin cell wall

4-amino acid crosslinks
in peptidoglycan

Thick periplasm
Plasma membrane

Porins
Cylinder of beta-sheets
Transport of sugars and peptides

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

-N may be as many as 200!

-Help bacteria resist phagocytosis
by white blood cells

Lipid-A Portion of LPS

Medical importance
Acts as an endotoxin
Only when released from lysed cell

Over stimulates host defenses

May induce lethal endotoxic shock