title: Model for the structure of the shape-maintaining layer of the Escherichia coli cell envelope.
abstract: The surface area per repeating murein unit (i.e. per molecule of diaminopimelate) has been determined for the cell envelopes of the Escherichia coli strains K-12 and W. This area was constantly found to be 1.3 nm(2). Using this value and other previously determined properties of E. coli murein, a three-dimensional model of murein is proposed. The model specifies a monomolecular layer in which disaccharide units are each 1.03 nm long, and the polysaccharide chains, all parallel, are 1.25 nm apart. The cross-linking peptide side-chains have the same atomic coordinates and are arranged above or below the polysaccharide chains.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003470:Culture Media; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D014316:Tritium