Definition of "peptidoglycan" [peptidoglycan]

• A polymer found in the cell walls of prokaryotes that consists of polysaccharide and peptide chains in a strong molecular network. Also called mucopeptide, murein. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Cluster III genes, which are positively regulated by CbfA-CTD, are enriched in GO terms representing functions that support bacterial food uptake and degradation, such as peptidoglycan degradation (e.g., lysozyme activity) and proteolysis."
• "In the discussion, the authors present additional evidence that supports their finding, including, but not limited to: (a) the inability to detect cytochromes within the methanogens; (b) the fact that the cell walls of methanogens do not contain peptidoglycan; (c) the 23S rRNA sequence is also divergent from typical bacteria."
• "They work by inhibiting cross-linkage between the linear peptidoglycan polymer chains that make up blocks of the cell wall."