300833 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Teichoic Acid, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Gram-Positive Bacteria
Document Summary
In the absence of a peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall, the pressure on the plasma membrane would become so high that the membrane would be disrupted and the cell would burst(lysis). Contrastingly without the layer in hypertonic solutions, water would flow out causing the cytoplasm to shrivel up(plasmolysis). Structures and their functions found in bacterial cell envelopes. Functions of structures found in bacterial cell envelopes: capsules: capsules assist pathogenic bacteria to resist phagocytosis by host phagocytes. Slime layers: slime layers facilitate motility and protect cells from environmental dangers: glycoalyx: glycoalyx aids in attachment to solid surfaces, including tissue surfaces in plants and animal hosts. S layer: s layer protects cell wall against ions and ph fluctuations, osmotic stress, enzymes or predatory bacteria. Furthermore it helps maintain shape, envelope rigidity and it promotes cell adhesion to surfaces. Describe the role of the cytoskeleton, and function of inclusion bodies (section 3. 6)