Lipopolysaccharide
Lipopolysaccharide (pronunciation: /ˌlaɪpoʊˌpɒlɪˈsækəˌraɪd/), often abbreviated as LPS, is a large molecule consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide joined by a covalent bond; they are found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, providing a barrier against antibiotics, dyes, and detergents.
Etymology
The term "Lipopolysaccharide" is derived from the Greek words lipos meaning fat, polys meaning many, and saccharide meaning sugar. It refers to the structure of the molecule, which consists of a lipid portion and a polysaccharide portion.
Structure
Lipopolysaccharides consist of a lipid and a polysaccharide composed of O-antigen, outer core and inner core joined by a covalent bond. The lipid portion, known as Lipid A, is an endotoxin, and is the toxic component of LPS.
Function
Lipopolysaccharides play a crucial role in the structural integrity of bacteria, and protect the membrane from certain kinds of chemical attack. LPS also increases the negative charge of the cell membrane and helps stabilize the overall membrane structure. It is of particular importance because it contributes to the pathogenicity of bacteria.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lipopolysaccharide
- Wikipedia's article - Lipopolysaccharide
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski