Question 3 (1.5 points) Bacterial cell walls are made primarily of peptidoglycan. The component parts of this compound are... protein and sugar protein and fat sugar and fat amino acids bonded through glycosidic bonds. Previous Page Next Page 3 of 9

Bacterial cell walls, an essential feature distinguishing prokaryotes from eukaryotes, are mainly composed of peptidoglycan, which is a polymer consisting of sugar chains linked by amino acids. This unique structure provides both rigidity and strength, allowing bacteria to maintain their shape and withstand harsh environments. In the real world, antibiotics like penicillin target the synthesis of peptidoglycan, disrupting the bacterial cell wall and leading to cell lysis. This is why these antibiotics are effective against many bacterial infections, making understanding peptidoglycan crucial for developing new treatments and combating antibiotic resistance.