Peptidoglycan-polysaccharide complex in the cell wall of the filamentous prochlorophyte Prochlorothrix hollandica.

A peptidoglycan-polysaccharide complex composed of N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylmuramic acid, muramic acid 6-phosphate, L-alanine, D-alanine, D-glutamic acid, meso-diaminopimelic acid, N-acetylmannosamine, mannose, galactose, glucose, and phosphate was isolated from cell walls of the filamentous prochlorophyte Prochlorothrix hollandica; this complex was similar in chemical composition and structure to that found in cyanobacteria. Peptide patterns of partial acid hydrolysates of the isolated peptidoglycan revealed an A1 gamma structure with direct cross-linkage (m-diaminopimelic acid-D-alanine) of the peptide side chains. The degree of cross-linkage (63%) was found to be in the range of values obtained for gram-positive bacteria and cyanobacteria.