Bacterial Cell Wall Structure
Layers of the Bacterial Cell Envelope
- Inner layer: Cell/plasma membrane
- Outer layer: Cell wall
Peptidoglycan Layer
- The peptidoglycan layer consists of glycan chains
- Glycan chains: linear strands of two alternating amino sugars:
- N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
- N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)
- Cross-linking of these strands occurs via peptide chains
Cell Wall Synthesis Process
- During reproduction and growth, bacteria must synthesize more NAG/NAM units for cell wall expansion
- Transpeptidation is the final stage in cross-linking of the linear glycan chains
- This process is essential for maintaining bacterial cell integrity and is a key target for many antibiotics