Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Cell Wall01:22

Bacterial Cell Wall

The bacterial cell wall is an essential structural component that encases the plasma membrane, preserving cellular integrity, determining shape, and protecting against osmotic stress. This rigid yet flexible structure primarily comprises peptidoglycan, a polymer that forms a mesh-like matrix conferring mechanical strength and flexibility.Peptidoglycan Composition and StructurePeptidoglycan, the core of the bacterial cell wall, comprises alternating units of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis01:23

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...
Microbial Morphologies01:29

Microbial Morphologies

Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
Flagella and Motility in Bacteria01:18

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...
Prokaryotic Cells01:28

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains — Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common microorganisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins.
Prokaryotic Cells01:51

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains—Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common organisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins. However,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Genetic and enzymatic basis of xylooligosaccharide metabolism by <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i>.

Gut microbes·2026
Same author

Multi-region sampling of the human small intestine using an ingestible device.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026
Same author

Membrane-Anchored Mobile Tethers Modulate Condensate Wetting, Localization, and Migration.

PRX life·2026
Same author

Sticky enzymes: increased metabolic efficiency via substrate-dependent enzyme clustering.

PRX life·2026
Same author

Do plasmid-dependent phages enable the survival of costly plasmids?

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Conformational Entropy of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Bars Intruders from Biomolecular Condensates.

PRX life·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization
06:33

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization

Published on: October 29, 2019

Cell shape and cell-wall organization in Gram-negative bacteria.

Kerwyn Casey Huang1, Ranjan Mukhopadhyay, Bingni Wen

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544-1014, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 4, 2008
PubMed
Summary

A new physical model explains how bacterial cell walls maintain shape despite damage. This research reveals the surprising robustness of peptidoglycan networks and how shape diversity arises from minor defects.

More Related Videos

Separation of the Cell Envelope for Gram-negative Bacteria into Inner and Outer Membrane Fractions with Technical Adjustments for Acinetobacter baumannii
10:24

Separation of the Cell Envelope for Gram-negative Bacteria into Inner and Outer Membrane Fractions with Technical Adjustments for Acinetobacter baumannii

Published on: April 10, 2020

Isolation and Preparation of Bacterial Cell Walls for Compositional Analysis by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography
11:18

Isolation and Preparation of Bacterial Cell Walls for Compositional Analysis by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography

Published on: January 15, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization
06:33

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization

Published on: October 29, 2019

Separation of the Cell Envelope for Gram-negative Bacteria into Inner and Outer Membrane Fractions with Technical Adjustments for Acinetobacter baumannii
10:24

Separation of the Cell Envelope for Gram-negative Bacteria into Inner and Outer Membrane Fractions with Technical Adjustments for Acinetobacter baumannii

Published on: April 10, 2020

Isolation and Preparation of Bacterial Cell Walls for Compositional Analysis by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography
11:18

Isolation and Preparation of Bacterial Cell Walls for Compositional Analysis by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography

Published on: January 15, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The bacterial peptidoglycan cell wall is crucial for maintaining cell shape and resisting mechanical stress.
  • While peptidoglycan composition and assembly are understood, its organizational principles for shape determination and response to damage remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a quantitative physical model of the bacterial cell wall to predict shape responses to peptidoglycan damage.
  • To investigate the mechanical behavior of the cell wall in Escherichia coli under various stress conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a quantitative physical model of the bacterial cell wall.
  • Utilized time-lapse imaging experiments to observe cell shape dynamics.
  • Analyzed peptidoglycan damage and its effect on cell morphology in Escherichia coli.

Main Results:

  • Damage to the peptidoglycan cell wall often results in bulges and large-scale bending of the cell.
  • The physical model predicts significant robustness of cell shape against peptidoglycan defects.
  • Cell shape diversity can be explained by simple spatial patterning of peptidoglycan defects.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial cell shape is surprisingly robust to peptidoglycan defects, explaining cell wall porosity and growth under stress.
  • The model provides insights into how minor alterations in peptidoglycan patterning contribute to the wide variety of bacterial shapes.