title: The exocytoskeleton.
abstract: The murein or peptidoglycan wall enclosing most bacteria is essential for the life style of most organisms in the Domain of Bacteria. Only in special situations does it not play a role in the bacterial growth cycle. When life first appeared on this planet the cellular osmotic pressure was probably low and a sacculus was probably not relevant, but became necessary as bacterial life evolved from the complex and sophisticated cell called the Last Universal Ancestor. The construction of the murein wall outside of the cytoplasmic membrane is complex and requires elaborate special biochemistry. Growth of the sacculus in some parts of the surface and not in others is important for bacteria cells and allows them to divide and grow without becoming larger and larger and for their being able to maintain a shape characteristic of individual species.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. Koch@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Arthur L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010457:Peptidoglycan