What is the meaning of mycolic acid?
Definition. Mycolic acids are α-branched, β-hydroxy long-chain fatty acids found in the cell walls of the mycolata taxon, a group of bacteria that includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of the disease tuberculosis.
Why is mycolic acid important?
Mycolic acids are major and specific lipid components of the mycobacterial cell envelope and are essential for the survival of members of the genus Mycobacterium that contains the causative agents of both tubercu- losis and leprosy.
What is the importance of mycolic acid in acid-fast bacteria?
Functions of the Acid-Fast Cell Wall Components Layer 3: The mycolic acids and other glycolipids also impede the entry of chemicals causing the organisms to grow slowly and be more resistant to chemical agents and lysosomal components of phagocytes than most bacteria (Figure 2.3C.
How do you test mycolic acid?
Thin-layer chromatography is used to demonstrate the presence of the lipid characteristic of Nocardia spp. (type A) in some corynebacteria, nocardias, and members of the “rhodochrous group.” Precipitation in ether and ethanol is used to demonstrate the presence of mycobacterial mycolic acids.
What is mycolic acid made of?
Mycolic acids are composed of a longer beta-hydroxy chain with a shorter alpha-alkyl side chain. Each molecule contains between 60 and 90 carbon atoms. The exact number of carbons varies by species and can be used as an identification aid. Most mycolic acids also contain various functional groups.
What is mycolic acid in Gram staining?
Some mycolic acid is covalently bound by a polysaccharide to peptidoglycan. Other mycolic acid-containing compounds are part of the thick, waxy cell wall material not attached to the peptidoglycan. 2 Due to the high lipid content of the cell wall, mycobacteria do not stain well with Gram stain techniques.
What is the purpose of mycolic acid in the mycobacterial cell wall quizlet?
What is the purpose of mycolic acid in the mycobacterial cell wall? It reinforces the cell wall and makes the bacterium resistant to certain chemicals and dyes.
Is mycolic acid a virulence factor?
Molecular structure of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence factor, mycolic acid, determines the elicited inflammatory pattern. Eur J Immunol.
Where is mycolic acid in bacteria?
cell walls
Mycolic acids are long fatty acids found in the cell walls of the Mycolata taxon, a group of bacteria that includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of the disease tuberculosis.
What is the purpose of a Decolorizer in the acid-fast stain?
The smear is then rinsed with a very strong decolorizer, which strips the stain from all non-acid-fast cells but does not permeate the cell wall of acid-fast organisms. The decolorized non-acid-fast cells then take up the counterstain.
What is the purpose of mycolic acid in the mycobacterial cell wall?
tuberculosis cell walls contain fatty molecules known as mycolic acids, which make the bacteria less susceptible to antibiotics. These molecules also help the bacteria to subvert and then hide from the immune system.
What are three advantages of endospore formation?
From a bacterium’s perspective, what are the advantages of endospore formation? – endospores are highly resistant to radiation and heat. – the endospore provides protection in dry conditions. -the endospore is more resistant to disinfectants.