Bacteria Cell Walls and Archaea Cell Walls: 5 Facts

In this article we are focusing on the cell walls of bacteria and archaea, their similarities as well as the differences and the topic is “Bacteria Cell Walls and Archaea Cell Walls: 5 Facts”.

A Cell wall can be defined as the outermost protective layer that covers a cell, and it is considered as a non-living component. The composition of a cell wall is different in different organism and it is always permeable. A cell wall separates the interior and exterior side in all the cells.

The cell wall covering is placed on the external of the cell next to a plasma membrane in the cells of plants, bacteria, fungi, archaea, and algae, the composition of the cell wall differs in all these organisms. There is no cell wall present in animals.

Cell Wall of Bacteria

Cell wall of bacteria is made up of Peptidoglycan which forms a protective coat outside the cell. Peptidoglycan which is a complex of amino acids and sugar units shields the cytoplasmic layer of both Gram positive and gram-negative bacteria.

The call wall in bacteria performs multiple functions like provides protection, maintain overall cellular integrity and resists the turgor pressure inside the cell by remaining flexibility.

Cell Wall of Archaea

Archaea also contains a cell wall the surrounds the cell membrane from outside and forms a protective coat and act as a medium between the internal and external environment of the cell. In archaea, the cell is formed of multiple types of polysaccharides and glycoconjugates.

The polymer which is found in the wall of archaeal cells contain Methanochondroitin, proteins and polysaccharides. They do not have a peptidoglycan layer instead they contain pseudomurein. They have a N-acetyl-alosaminuronic acid (NAT) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG) linkage and forms peptide inter bridges to increase the strength of the bonding.

Differences between bacteria and archaea cell Walls

Similarities between archaea cell walls and bacteria cell walls

• They both come under microorganism classification.
• Archaea and Bacteria are prokaryotes.
• They both lack true organelles, that is lack membrane bound organelles and nucleus.
• Their shape is almost similar.
• Bacteria and Archaea both are single celled organisms and has a very small size.
• Both Archaea and Bacteria can or cannot contain flagella.
• Archaea and Bacteria possess 70S type of ribosomes.
• They contain plasmids, inclusion bodies, flagella, pili, capsules and slime layers.
• The habitat of archaea and bacteria is almost same.

Do both bacteria and archaea have cell walls?

Yes, bacteria and archaea both have a protective covering of a cell wall with different composition. They have similarities with respect to their structure, size and both lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles.

Are archaea cell walls and bacteria cell walls same?

No, bacteria and archaea have different cell walls. In Bacteria, the cell wall is formed of peptidoglycans and in archaea it is composed of pure proteins, glycoproteins, polysaccharides and pseudopeptidoglycan.

Conclusion

To conclude the article, we can say that the bacteria and archaea both have a cell wall which protects the cell from external harsh environment and both organisms have some similarities and dissimilarities.

Also Read:

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• Food vacuole in fungi
• Cell wall and vacuoles
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• Hard fruit example
• Gram negative bacteria examples
• Fibrous protein function
• Do fungi have a mitochondrion
• Is cell membrane an organelle
• Structure of cytosine