Function and Structure of peptidoglycan

• Provides shape and structural support to cell

• Resists damage due to osmotic pressure
• Provides some degree of resistance to diffusion of
molecules
• Single bag-like, seamless molecule
• Composed of polysaccharide chains cross linked with
short chains of amino acids: “peptido” and “glycan”.
Monomers of peptidoglycan

Units added to
PG as a pair.

NAG: NAM: N-acetyl muramic acid

N-acetyl glucosamine
(NAG + lactic acid)
Glycan chains cross-linked with amino acids

•G- and G+ vary w/

DAP vs. lysine and
at the interbridge.
•Note the presence
of unusual “D”
amino acids.
•Peptides attached
to NAM.
Peptidoglycan is a 3D molecule

Cross links are both horizontal and vertical between

glycan chains stacked atop one another.
Teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid
Found in G+ cell wall
Teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid
Structure and Function

•Polymer of phosphate and ribitol or glycerol

R: sugar or amino acid
•Lipoteichoic acid covalently attached to
membrane lipids.
•Major contributor to negative charge of cell
exterior.
•Appears to function in Ca++ binding
Gram Positive vs Gram Negative
Characteristics Gram Positive Gram Negative

Retain crystal violet dye and stain blue or

1 Gram Reaction can be decolorized to accept counterstain
purple
(safranin) and stain pink or red

2 Cell Wall Cell Wall is 20-30 nm thick. Cell Wall is 8-12 nm thick.
3 Cell Wall The wall is Smooth. The wall is wavy.
4 Peptidoglycan Layer Thick (multilayered) Thin (single-layered)
5 Teichoic Acids Present in many Absent
6 Periplasmic Space Absent Present
7 Outer Membrane Absent Present
8 Porins Absent Occurs in Outer Membrane

9 Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Content Virtually None High

Low (acid-fast bacteria have lipids linked to High (because of presence of outer
10 Lipid and Lipoprotein Content
peptidoglycan) membrane)
11 Mesosomes Quite Prominent Less Prominent
12 Flagellar Structure 2 rings in basal body 4 rings in basal body
13 Toxin Produced Exotoxins Endotoxins or Exotoxins
14 Resistance to Physical Disruption High Low

Low (requires pretreatment to destabilize

15 Cell Wall Disruption by Lysozyme High
outer membrane)
Susceptibility to Penicillin and
16 High Low
Sulfonamide

Susceptibility to Streptomycin,
17 Low High
Chloramphenicol and Tetracycline
• Grams stain - a differential staining procedure