Which component of bacterial cells is responsible for providing rigidity and strength?

Which component of bacterial cells is responsible for providing rigidity and strength?

• A. Peptidoglycan
• B. Cell membrane
• C. Flagella
• D. Capsule

Answer: (A)

Peptidoglycan is the component of bacterial cells that provides rigidity and strength. It is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms a mesh-like structure surrounding the bacterial cell membrane. This structure is crucial for maintaining the shape of the bacteria and protecting it against osmotic pressure, which can lead to cell lysis if the internal pressure is too high compared to the outside environment. In Gram-positive bacteria, peptidoglycan forms a thick layer that contributes significantly to the cell's structural integrity. In Gram-negative bacteria, although it is thinner, it is still essential for the overall strength of the cell. The presence of peptidoglycan is a defining characteristic of bacterial cells and is a target for antibiotics such as penicillin, which inhibit its synthesis, compromising the cell wall and leading to bacterial death. The other components mentioned, such as the cell membrane, do not provide rigidity; instead, they serve as a barrier that controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. Flagella are primarily involved in motility, allowing bacteria to move toward favorable environments or away from harmful ones, while capsules serve to protect bacteria from the immune response but do not contribute to the rigidity of the cell structure itself.

Peptidoglycan is the component of bacterial cells that provides rigidity and strength. It is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms a mesh-like structure surrounding the bacterial cell membrane. This structure is crucial for maintaining the shape of the bacteria and protecting it against osmotic pressure, which can lead to cell lysis if the internal pressure is too high compared to the outside environment.

In Gram-positive bacteria, peptidoglycan forms a thick layer that contributes significantly to the cell's structural integrity. In Gram-negative bacteria, although it is thinner, it is still essential for the overall strength of the cell. The presence of peptidoglycan is a defining characteristic of bacterial cells and is a target for antibiotics such as penicillin, which inhibit its synthesis, compromising the cell wall and leading to bacterial death.

The other components mentioned, such as the cell membrane, do not provide rigidity; instead, they serve as a barrier that controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. Flagella are primarily involved in motility, allowing bacteria to move toward favorable environments or away from harmful ones, while capsules serve to protect bacteria from the immune response but do not contribute to the rigidity of the cell structure itself.