peptidoglycan

Meanings

• noun

  A complex polysaccharide that forms the major component of the cell wall in many bacteria. It consists of alternating units of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid, with peptide side chains attached to the muramic acid residues.

  - "Peptidoglycan is an essential component of the bacterial cell wall."
  - "The antibiotic penicillin binds to specific sites on the peptidoglycan, inhibiting the cross-linking process and leading to bacterial lysis."

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Synonyms

mucopeptide

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Variants

List of all variants of peptidoglycan that leads to same result
mucopeptide , murein , peptidoglycan , peptidoglycans

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Greek words 'peptis' (digest), 'glykos' (sweet), and 'kanon' (rule), reflecting the original belief that the cell wall contained a digestible, sweet substance that maintained cell shape.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Peptidoglycan is not found in the cell walls of Archaea or in the inner membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.

2. The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered due to its ability to inhibit the cross-linking of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Cell wall: The rigid outer layer of a bacterial cell, which provides structural support and protects the cell from environmental stresses. Peptidoglycan is a major component of the cell wall.

2. Antibiotic: A substance that inhibits or kills microorganisms. Many antibiotics target specific components of the bacterial cell wall, including peptidoglycan.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Peptidoglycan has been extensively studied in microbiology due to its role in bacterial cell structure and its interaction with antibiotics.

How to Memorize "peptidoglycan"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a long chain of alternating sugar and amino acid units forming the backbone of the bacterial cell wall.
   - Visualize the attachment of peptide side chains to specific locations on the sugar units.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the term 'peptidoglycan' with 'cell wall' and 'bacteria'.
   - Link the term with 'antibiotics' and 'microbiology'.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember the acronym P-G-C: Peptidoglycan-Glycan-Component.
   - Create a mnemonic to remember the structure: 'Sugars-Sugar-Protein-Protein-Sugar-Sugar'.

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