Pseudopeptidoglycan

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Pseudopeptidoglycan (also known as pseudomurein[1]) is a major cell wall component of some archaea that differs from bacterial peptidoglycan in chemical structure, but resembles eubacteria peptidoglycan in morphology, function, and structure. The basic components are N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetyltalosaminuronic acid (Peptidoglycan has N-acetylmuramic acid instead), which are linked by a β-1,3-glycosidic bond. Whenever pseudopeptidoglycan is present in an organism, lysozyme is ineffective. Lysozyme is a host defense mechanism, which can break the B-1,4-glycosidic bonds causing the peptidoglycan to become destroyed. However, pseudopeptidoglycan has the B-1,3-glycosidic bond rendering lysozyme useless.

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[edit] References

  1. ^ White, David. (1995) The Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes, pages 6, 12-21. (Oxford: Oxford University Press). ISBN 0-19-508439-X.
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