Pseudopeptidoglycan

Definition

Pseudopeptidoglycan is a structural polymer found in the cell walls of some Archaea. It is similar to peptidoglycan but has different chemical bonds and sugar components.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pseudopeptidoglycan is made up of N-acetyltalosaminuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine.
2. It contains beta-1,3-glycosidic linkages instead of the beta-1,4 linkages found in bacterial peptidoglycan.
3. Lysozyme, an enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls, does not affect pseudopeptidoglycan.
4. The presence of pseudopeptidoglycan helps certain Archaea survive extreme environments by providing structural integrity.
5. Pseudopeptidoglycan is primarily found in methanogenic archaea.

Review Questions

• What are the main sugar components of pseudopeptidoglycan?
• How do the glycosidic bonds in pseudopeptidoglycan differ from those in bacterial peptidoglycan?
• Why is lysozyme ineffective against pseudopeptidoglycan?

Related terms

Peptidoglycan:

A polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms a mesh-like layer outside the plasma membrane of most bacteria.

Archaea:

A domain of single-celled microorganisms that are distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes.

Lysozyme:

An enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls by cleaving the glycosidic bond between NAM and NAG.