mureins

mur·eins

(myūr'ēnz),

Peptidoglycans making up the sacculus or cell casing of bacteria, consisting of linear polysaccharides of alternating N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid units, to the lactate side chains of which are linked oligopeptides; independent chains are cross-linked in three dimensions through the peptides or the 6-OH groups (the latter may be linked through phosphate to a teichoic acid).

[L. murus, wall]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012