Information AboutPeptidoglycan |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT PEPTIDOGLYCAN | |
| membrane biology | |
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The peptidoglycan layer is substantially thicker in Gram-positive Bacteria (20 to 80 Nm ) than in Gram-negative bacteria (7 to 8 nm), 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.1 ANTIBIOTIC INHIBITION Antibacterial drugs such as Penicillin target the peptidoglycan layer by interfering with its formation, specifically the crosslinking enzyme Transpeptidase . Mutations in the transpeptidase enzyme (also known as ''penicillin binding protein'' or PBP) which lead to reduced interactions between an antibiotic and the bacterial PBPs are a significant cause of emerging Antibiotic Resistance .2 STRUCTURE The peptidoglycan layer in the bacterial cell wall is a Crystal Lattice structure formed from linear chains of two alternating amino Sugar s, namely N-acetyl Glucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetyl Muramic Acid (MurNAc). Each MurNAc is attached to a short (4 to 5 residue) Amino Acid chain. Cross-link ing between Amino Acid s in different linear amino sugar chains by an enzyme known as Transpeptidase result in a 3-dimensional structure that is strong and rigid. The specific amino acid sequence and molecular structure vary with the bacterial Species .3 REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS |
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