How are cell walls important to bacterial cells?
1 Answer
The bacterial cell wall is a unique structure which surrounds the cell membrane. Although not present in every bacterial species, the cell wall is very important as a cellular component. Structuraly, the wall is necessary for:
Maintaining the cell's characteristic shape- the rigid wall compensates for the flexibility of the phospholipid membrane and keeps the cell from assuming a spherical shape
Countering the effects of osmotic pressure- the strength of the wall is responsible for keeping the cell from bursting when the intracellular osmolarity is much greater than the extracellular teichoic osmolarity
Providing attachment sites for bacteriophages-teichoic acids attached to the outer surface of the wall are like landing pads for viruses that infect bacteria
Providing a rigid platform for surface appendages- flagella, fimbriae, and pili all emanate from the wall and extend beyond it
