peptidoglycan biosynthesis

Peptidoglyan Biosynthesis

An Overiew of Peptidoglycan Stucture

Peptidoglycan is also commonly referred as the cell wall. Bacteria are divided into two main categories depending on composition of their cell wall. Cells can be Gram positive, characterized by a thick layer of peptidoglycan and lack of an outer membrane or cells can be Gram negative. Gram negative cells have a thin layer of peptidoglycan between an inner and outer cell membrane. E.coli are Gram negative. Peptidoglycan in composed of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) pentapeptides.