Bacterial Cell Wall and Its Functions

The bacterium is surrounded by a strong, rigid cell wall. The cell wall gives bacteria stiffness
and determines the form of the cell. It is a component of cell division. The cell wall also
offers a defence against osmotic damage to the cell.

The bacterial cell wall has lysozymes, bacteriophages, and antibiotic target sites. It transports
antigens from the bacteria that are vital to virulence and immunity.

Components of Bacterial Cell Wall

The peptidoglycan that makes up the rigid portion of the cell wall is called murein and is
made up of N-acetyl glucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid molecules that alternate in
chains and are cross-connected by peptide subunits. Gram-positive bacteria have simpler
chemical structures in their cell walls than Gram-negative bacteria.

Gram-negative Cell Wall

The gram-negative cell wall has the following components:

 Thin peptidoglycan layer – Peptidoglycan is a polymer of sugar and amino acids and is often
single-layered in the gram-negative cell wall.
 Outer membrane – It is a protein layer that acts as a target site for antibiotics and phages.
 Lipoprotein layer – Links the peptidoglycan to the outer cell membrane.
 Lipopolysaccharide – It constitutes the endotoxicity of gram-negative bacteria. The toxicity is
associated with the lipid A molecule of the lipopolysaccharide.
 Periplasmic space – It is the space between the outer and inner membranes.

Gram-positive Cell Wall

The gram-positive cell wall has the following components:

 Thick or multilayered peptidoglycan. It provides structural strength and mechanical rigidity.

 Teichoic acid – It is a water-soluble polymer that constitutes the major surface antigens of gram-
positive bacteria.

It lacks an outer membrane and lipopolysaccharide but has other components such as
polysaccharides and proteins.
Explore: Difference between Gram-positive and Negative Cell Wall

Defective Bacterial Cell Wall

Antibiotics, lysozymes and bacteriophages are just a few examples of the many substances
that can hinder or interfere with the formation of cell walls. There are four categories of
bacteria that lack or have deficient cell walls.

1. L-forms – It is a growth form of bacteria that has no cell wall. Murein or peptidoglycan is absent.
L-forms develop when agents like penicillin interfere with the formation of cell walls.
2. Mycoplasma – They are naturally occurring bacteria that lack a cell wall. These are classified
under an independent genus.
3. Spheroplasts – It is a bacterial cell whose cell wall has been nearly or totally destroyed due to the
actions of lysozyme or penicillin. It is usually derived from gram-negative bacteria.
4. Protoplasts – The term refers to the whole cell, excluding the cell wall. Spheroplasts and
protoplasts are different from one another as in the latter, the cell wall has been entirely removed.
It is usually derived from gram-positive bacteria.

Keep exploring BYJU’S Biology to learn more such exciting topics.

See more:

Cell Wall and Cell Membrane

Difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacteria

Difference between Virus and Bacteria

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1
What is the primary component of a bacterial cell wall?
Peptidoglycan, often known as murein, makes up the majority of the bacterial cell wall. The cell wall of
most bacteria is made of a polymer called peptidoglycan, which is made of sugars and amino acids. It
forms a layer outside the plasma membrane.
Q2
What is teichoic acid?
Teichoic acid is the main surface antigen of gram-positive bacteria and it is absent in gram-negative
bacterial cell walls. It is a polymer of ribitol phosphate or glycerol phosphate that is water-soluble. It
makes up roughly 50% of the dry weight of the cell wall.
Q3
What are the techniques used to study a bacterial cell wall’s
composition?
A bacterial cell wall does not stain with any simple dyes and cannot be clearly observed under a light
microscope. Thus, the demonstration of a cell wall can be done by differential staining, electron
microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, reaction with specific antibodies and plasmolysis.
Q4
What is pleomorphism?
The defective synthesis of the cell wall can also result in pleomorphism. Pleomorphism is the capacity of
certain bacteria to change their size or shape in response to external factors.