Synthesis of Functional Bacterial Wall

Abstract

The chemical nature of the wall allows it to be a two-dimensional stress-resistant fabric forming the exoskeleton of most eubacteria. The key feature is that it is composed of functional units containing both carbohydrate chains and peptide chains such that a basic unit, i.e., the penta-muropeptide, can connect to other units in at least three places. The formula for the peptidoglycan unit structure of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis is shown in Figure 4.1 as a computer simulation. This specific formula represents the most common structure in eubacteria, and is similar to the basic units used by all eubacteria, except for the wall-less mycoplasma.