What is peptidoglycan made up of?

1 Answer
May 19, 2015

A peptidoglycan is a cross-linked polymer of sugars and short peptides that makes up the cell walls of all bacteria.

See the schematic diagram below.

microbeonline.com

The sugar component consists of alternating residues of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG, shown as G above)) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM, shown as M above)

www.cryst.bbk.ac.uk

joined by β-1,4 linkages.

www.trc-canada.com

Attached to the N-acetylmuramic acid is a peptide chain of three to five amino acids.

microbeonline.com

The peptide chain can be cross-linked to the peptide chain of another strand either directly as above or by a pentaglycine bridge

microbeonline.com

to form a 3D mesh-like layer.

classes.midlandstech.edu