
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Pseudopeptidoglycan
Introduction
Pseudopeptidoglycan (also known as pseudomurein[1]) is a major cell wall component of some archaebacteria that differs from eubacterial peptidoglycan in chemical structure, but resembles eubacteria peptidoglycan in morphology, function, and structure. The basic components are N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetyltalosaminuronic acid (Peptidoglycan has N-acetylmuramic acid instead), which are linked by a β-1,3-glycosidic bond. Whenever pseudopeptidoglycan is present in an organism, lysozyme is ineffective. Lysozyme is a host defense mechanism, which can break the B-1,4-glycosidic bonds causing the peptidoglycan to become destroyed. However, pseudopeptidoglycan has the B-1,3-glycosidic bond rendering lysozyme useless.
References
References
- ↑ White, David. (1995) The Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes, pages 6, 12-21. (Oxford: Oxford University Press). ISBN 0-19-508439-X.
