Pseudopeptidoglycan, also known as pseudomurein, is a polymer found in the cell walls of many archaea. It is structurally similar in function to the peptidoglycan found in bacteria, but it differs chemically because the N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) subunit is replaced with a different subunit.

Pseudopeptidoglycan

Archaeal cell wall structure differs from bacterial cell walls primarily because archaea do not contain peptidoglycan. Instead, they often contain a similar polymer called pseudopeptidoglycan (or pseudomurein). Alternatively, some archaea possess a layer of glycoproteins or polysaccharides that serves as the cell wall, and a few archaeal species appear to lack cell walls entirely.

Google

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Peptidoglycan, also referred to as murein, is the major component of bacterial cell walls and is uniquely found in bacteria. Structurally, it resembles a fabric-like meshwork layer composed of long chains of alternating N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) molecules. These chains possess significant two-dimensional tensile strength because peptide bridges connect the NAG and NAM units within each peptidoglycan layer.

Peptidoglycan

Archaea are unicellular prokaryotic organisms that have distinct evolutionary histories, genetics, metabolic pathways, and structural compositions compared to bacteria. They are found in nearly every habitat, including extreme environments that are very cold, hot, basic, or acidic. While some archaea reside in the human body, none have been identified as human pathogens.

Archaea

https://openstax.org/details/books/microbiology/

Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of the text make the material interesting and accessible while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. Microbiology’s art program enhances students’ understanding of concepts through clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs.

Microbiology is produced through a collaborative publishing agreement between OpenStax and the American Society for Microbiology Press. The book aligns with the curriculum guidelines of the American Society for Microbiology.

OpenStax Microbiology Textbook

Types of Bacterial Cell Walls

The structural integrity of the bacterial cell wall relies on the cross-linking of tetrapeptide chains that extend from each N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) unit within the peptidoglycan layer. The nature of this connection differs between bacterial types: in gram-negative bacteria, the tetrapeptide chains are directly cross-linked to one another, whereas in gram-positive bacteria, these tetrapeptide chains are connected by pentaglycine cross-bridges.

Peptidoglycan Cross-Linking

The assembly of peptidoglycan is a multi-step process that determines the shape of a bacterial cell. The individual subunits of peptidoglycan are synthesized inside the bacterial cell. These subunits are subsequently exported across the membrane and assembled into structured layers on the cell's exterior.

Peptidoglycan Assembly

Because peptidoglycan is structurally unique to bacteria, many antibiotic drugs are designed specifically to target and interfere with its synthesis. By disrupting peptidoglycan formation, these antibiotics weaken the bacterial cell wall, which makes the cells highly susceptible to the effects of osmotic pressure and can lead to cell lysis.

Antibiotic Interference with Peptidoglycan

Certain cells of the human immune system can identify bacterial pathogens by detecting the peptidoglycan present on their cell surfaces. Once recognized, these immune cells engulf the bacterial cell and employ specific enzymes, such as lysozyme, to break down and digest the peptidoglycan in the cell wall, ultimately destroying the pathogen.

Immune Recognition of Peptidoglycan

Archaeal Cell Walls vs. Bacterial Cell Walls

Amoxicillin is a commonly prescribed penicillin derivative that acts as an antibiotic by targeting the peptidoglycan of bacterial cell walls. If an infection does not resolve after a full course of amoxicillin, it suggests that the causative agent likely lacks peptidoglycan (such as a virus, a fungus, or a bacterium lacking this structure) or that the pathogenic bacterium has developed antibiotic resistance.

Amoxicillin

- Crenarchaeota
- Euryarchaeota
- Korarchaeota
- Nanoarchaeota
- Thaumarchaeota

Major Phylum of Archaea

Archaeal plasma membranes differ fundamentally from bacterial and eukaryotic membranes in three significant ways. First, archaeal membrane phospholipids are formed with ether linkages, rather than the ester linkages found in bacteria and eukaryotes. Second, archaeal phospholipids contain branched chains, whereas those of bacterial and eukaryotic cells are straight-chained. Finally, while some archaeal membranes form lipid bilayers similar to other domains, other archaeal plasma membranes exist as lipid monolayers.

Archaeal Plasma Membrane Structure

Eukaryotic cells contain multiple, linear chromosomes that are haploid or diploid and are wrapped around histone proteins. In contrast, prokaryotes typically possess a single, circular chromosome that is haploid, with bacteria lacking histones and archaea containing histones.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After