peptidoglycan-based cell wall

GO:0009274 · ENVELOPE · ENVELOPE_LAYER · PROPOSED

A protective, load-bearing structure outside the cytoplasmic membrane, built from glycan strands of alternating N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid cross-linked by short peptides. The resulting murein sacculus surrounds the cell and resists turgor pressure. [DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00094.x]

Synonyms: murein sacculus

Components

Component	Type	Grounding	Genes	Stoichiometry	Essential	Role
peptidoglycan	PEPTIDOGLYCAN				ESSENTIAL	Forms the covalently closed, stress-bearing mesh around the cytoplasmic membrane. `DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00094.x` Vollmer et al. review sacculus chemistry and architecture.

Taxonomic distribution

NCBITaxon:2 Bacteria — COMMON: Present in most bacteria; wall-less lineages and L-forms are exceptions. [DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00094.x]

Canonical examples

NCBITaxon:562 Escherichia coli — Canonical Gram-negative murein sacculus model. [DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00094.x]

Functions

cell shape maintenance and resistance to turgor pressure — The cross-linked sacculus bears mechanical stress while permitting growth.
- DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00094.x Structural and physical roles of the sacculus.

Evidence

DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00094.x Peptidoglycan structure and architecture.

Curation history

2026-08-30T19:30:00Z codex · CREATED_RECORD — Added as a literature-backed foundational seed. Identity checked against the 2026-07-01 Gene Ontology release; requires human review.

Source: data/structures/envelope/peptidoglycan_based_cell_wall.yaml