noun
- A complex polymer found in bacterial cell walls, consisting of a peptide linked to a polysaccharide; a major component of peptidoglycan.
Usage: technical; biochemistry; microbiology
Examples
- The mucopeptide layer in bacterial cell walls provides structural support and rigidity.
- Antibiotics like penicillin work by disrupting mucopeptide synthesis in bacteria.
- Mucopeptide is a key target for the immune system's recognition of bacterial pathogens.
- The composition of mucopeptide varies among different bacterial species.
- Lysozyme breaks down mucopeptide by cleaving specific chemical bonds in the polymer.