Bacteria cell walls tend to contain:
a. Peptidoglycan.
b. Lipid bilayers.
c. Cholesterol.
d. Pseudomurein.
e. Flagellin.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the composition of bacterial cell walls by recalling the key structural components unique to bacteria.
2. Recall that bacterial cell walls primarily contain peptidoglycan, a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that provides rigidity and shape.
3. Recognize that lipid bilayers are part of the cell membrane, not the cell wall, so option b is not correct for the cell wall composition.
4. Know that cholesterol is typically found in eukaryotic cell membranes, not in bacterial cell walls, so option c is incorrect.
5. Understand that pseudomurein is found in the cell walls of some Archaea, not bacteria, and flagellin is a protein that makes up flagella, not the cell wall.

Key Concepts

Peptidoglycan Structure and Function

Peptidoglycan is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms a mesh-like layer outside the plasma membrane of most bacteria, providing structural support and shape. It is unique to bacterial cell walls and is essential for maintaining cell integrity against osmotic pressure.

Differences Between Bacterial and Archaeal Cell Walls

While bacterial cell walls typically contain peptidoglycan, archaeal cell walls lack peptidoglycan and may contain pseudomurein instead. This distinction helps differentiate bacteria from archaea and influences their staining properties and antibiotic susceptibility.

Role of Lipid Bilayers and Other Components in Cell Membranes

Lipid bilayers form the fundamental structure of all cell membranes, including bacteria, but they do not constitute the cell wall. Cholesterol is generally absent in bacterial membranes but present in eukaryotic cells. Flagellin is a protein that makes up bacterial flagella, not the cell wall.