Definition

A type of compound that is a component of bacterial cell walls, consisting of sugars and amino acids.

Example

Mucopeptide is an important part of the structure of bacterial cell walls.

Conversation

I was reading about cell walls in bacteria, and I came across the term mucopeptide.

Oh really? I've heard that word before but I'm not sure what it means.

It's related to peptidoglycan, which makes up the structure of the cell wall.

That makes sense! Biology can be so interesting when you dig into the details.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mucopeptide is formed from "mucus" (from Latin *mucus*, meaning slime or mucus) and "peptide" (from Greek *peptidos*, meaning digest or to digest). The word refers to a compound that is a combination of mucus and peptide, often found in biological contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mucus' as a slimy substance and 'peptide' as something related to digestion — together, they form a compound that involves both elements.

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