Pseudopeptidoglycan
Pseudopeptidoglycan (also known as pseudomurein[1]) is a major cell wall component of some Archaea that differs from bacterial peptidoglycan in chemical structure, but resembles bacterial peptidoglycan in function and physical structure. The basic components are N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetyltalosaminuronic acid (peptidoglycan has N-acetylmuramic acid instead), which are linked by β-1,3-glycosidic bonds. Lysozyme, a host defense mechanism present in human secretions (eg. saliva and tears), is ineffective against organisms with pseudopeptidoglycan cell walls. Lysozyme can break β-1,4-glycosidic bonds to degrade peptidoglycan; however, pseudopeptidoglycan has β-1,3-glycosidic bonds, rendering lysozyme useless.
See also
- Peptidoglycan
- Cell wall
- Methanochondroitin - another archaea cell wall type
References
- ↑ White, David. (1995) The Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes, pages 6, 12-21. (Oxford: Oxford University Press). ISBN 0-19-508439-X.
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