6.6D: Peptidoglycan Synthesis and Cell Division
- Examine Peptidoglycan synthesis during cell division
Peptidoglycan, also known as murein, is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms a mesh-like layer outside the plasma membrane of bacteria (but not Archaea; []), forming the cell wall. The sugar component consists of alternating residues of β-(1,4) linked N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid. Attached to the N-acetylmuramic acid is a peptide chain of three to five amino acids. The peptide chain can be cross-linked to the peptide chain of another strand forming the 3D mesh-like layer. Some Archaea have a similar layer of pseudopeptidoglycan or pseudomurein, where the sugar residues are β-(1,3) linked N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetyltalosaminuronic acid. That is why the cell wall of Archaea is insensitive to lysozymes, which are present in human sweat and tears as part of innate immunity.
Peptidoglycan serves a structural role in the bacterial cell wall giving it strength, as well as counteracting the osmotic pressure of the cytoplasm. A common misconception is that peptidoglycan gives the cell its shape. However, it is actually the MreB protein that facilitates cell shape. Peptidoglycan is also involved in binary fission during bacterial cell reproduction.
The peptidoglycan layer is substantially thicker in Gram-positive bacteria (20 to 80 nanometers) than in Gram-negative bacteria (7 to 8 nanometers), with the attachment of the S-layer. Peptidoglycan forms around 90% of the dry weight of Gram-positive bacteria but only 10% of Gram-negative strains. Thus, presence of high levels of peptidoglycan is the primary determinant of the characterization of bacteria as gram-positive. In Gram-positive strains, it is important in attachment roles and stereotyping purposes. For both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, particles of approximately 2 nm can pass through the peptidoglycan. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are sensitive to different types of antiobiotics.
Key Points
- The sugar component of peptidoglycan consists of alternating residues of β-(1,4) linked N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid.
- Peptidoglycan serves a structural role in the bacterial cell wall, giving structural strength but not shape, and counteracting the osmotic pressure of the cytoplasm.
- Peptidoglycan is also involved in binary fission during bacterial cell reproduction.
Key Terms
- peptidoglycan : A polymer of glycan and peptides found in bacterial cell walls.
- MreB : MreB is a protein found in bacteria that has been identified as a homologue of actin, as indicated by similarities in tertiary structure and conservation of active site peptide sequence.