Linear peptidoglycan polymer chains are the main component of the cell wall of most bacteria. Peptidoglycan is a complex polymer made up of long chains of amino sugars and amino acids. These chains are cross-linked to each other to form a rigid structure that gives bacteria their characteristic shape and helps protect them from osmotic stress.
The peptidoglycan layer of the bacterial cell wall is composed of two types of sugar residues, N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM), which are linked together to form a glycan strand. The glycan strand is then cross-linked to adjacent strands by peptide bonds, which are formed between the amino acids in the peptide side chains of the NAM residues.
The linear peptidoglycan polymer chains are essential for the survival of bacteria, as they provide structural integrity to the cell wall and help protect the cell from environmental stressors. Inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis is a common target for antibacterial agents, as disrupting the formation of the cell wall can lead to bacterial cell lysis and death.
