C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate (undecaprenyl pyrophosphate; C55-PP) is an essential molecule involved in construction of the bacterial peptidoglycan

cell wall A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding some types of cells, just outside the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. It provides the cell with both structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mech ...

. It is a receptor found in the plasma membrane of bacteria that allows glycan tetrapeptide monomers synthesized in the cell cytoplasm to translocate to the periplasmic space. A related compound is C55-P (

undecaprenyl phosphate Undecaprenyl phosphate (UP), also known lipid-P, bactoprenol and C55-P., is a molecule with the primary function of trafficking polysaccharides across the cell membrane, largely contributing to the overall structure of the cell wall in Gram-posit ...

), differing by having one fewer phosphate group. It is produced from C55-PP by reaction EC 3.6.1.27, typically catalyzed by UppP/BacA. C55-P is recycled back into C55-PP later in the process. C55-OH is known as

bactoprenol Bactoprenol also known as dolichol-11 and (isomerically vaguely) C55-isoprenyl alcohol (C55-OH) is a lipid first identified in certain species of lactobacili. It is a hydrophobic alcohol that plays a key role in the growth of cell walls (peptido ...

References

{{microbiology-stub Organophosphates Terpenes and terpenoids