Animation Illustrating the Role of Autolysin and Transpeptidase Enzymes
in the Assembly of Peptidoglycan

During normal bacterial growth, bacterial enzymes called autolysins put breaks in the peptidoglycan in order to allow for insertion of peptidoglycan building blocks (monmers of NAG-NAM-peptide). These monomers are then attached to the growing end of the bacterial cell wall while transpeptidase enzymes join the peptide of one monomer with that of another in order to provide strength to the cell wall.

 


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