What are the three main components of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)? What role does the core polysaccharide play in the structure of LPS? How does the O specific side chain contribute... What are the three main components of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)? What role does the core polysaccharide play in the structure of LPS? How does the O specific side chain contribute to the characteristics of gram-negative bacteria? What functions does LPS have regarding antibiotic susceptibility? How does LPS protect pathogenic gram-negative bacteria from host defenses?
Understand the Problem
The question requires generating multiple questions based on the provided text about lipopolysaccharides (LPS), their structure, functions, and relevance in bacterial defense mechanisms.
Answer
The three main components of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are lipid A, core polysaccharide, and O-specific side chain. The core polysaccharide contributes to the negative charge and stability of LPS. The O-specific side chain determines the antigenic variability of gram-negative bacteria. LPS functions in reducing antibiotic susceptibility and protecting against host defenses by acting as a permeability barrier and eliciting immune responses.
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More Information
Lipid A anchors LPS to the bacterial membrane and is responsible for its endotoxic effects. The core polysaccharide provides structural stability and contributes to the molecule's overall charge. The O-specific side chain varies between species and strains, which is crucial for immune system recognition and evasion.
Tips
A common mistake is not recognizing the structural role of each component in LPS. Lipid A's contribution to toxicity and the immune-evasive properties of the O-specific side chain are fundamental to understanding LPS's function.
Sources
- Biochemistry, Lipopolysaccharide - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Lipopolysaccharide - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Lipopolysaccharide - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
