What is the Difference Between Teichoic Acid and Lipoteichoic Acid

The main difference between teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid is that teichoic acid is a bacterial copolymer of glycerol phosphate or ribitol phosphate and carbohydrates linked by phosphodiester bonds, whereas lipoteichoic acid is the teichoic acid anchored to the lipid membrane.

Generally, teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid are two polymeric compounds that occur in the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria.

Key Areas Covered

1. What are Teichoic Acid
– Definition, Structure, Function
2. What are Lipoteichoic Acid
– Definition, Structure, Function
3. Similarities Between Teichoic Acid and Lipoteichoic Acid
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Teichoic Acid and Lipoteichoic Acid
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Lipoteichoic Acid, Teichoic Acid

What is Teichoic Acid

Teichoic acid is a copolymer of glycerol phosphate or ribitol phosphate and carbohydrates linked by phosphodiester bonds. It occurs within the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. In general, it appears in the walls of bacterial genera including genera Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, and Listeria. Generally, teichoic acid appears to be covalently linked to N-acetylmuramic acid or a terminal D-alanine in the tetrapeptide cross-linkage between N-acetylmuramic acid units of the peptidoglycan layer. If not, they can be anchored in the cytoplasmic membrane using a lipid anchor.

Figure 1: Teichoic Acid

Furthermore, there are two types of teichoic acids that occur in the bacterial cell wall. They are lipoteichoic acid and wall teichoic acid. Lipoteichoic acid occurs anchored to the lipid membrane while wall teichoic acid occurs covalently bound to the peptidoglycan. Moreover, the main function of teichoic acid in the cell wall of bacteria is to provide flexibility to the cell wall by attracting cations such as calcium and potassium.

What is Lipoteichoic Acid

Generally, lipoteichoic acid is a primary component of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the structure of lipoteichoic acid varies in different species of bacteria and glycerol phosphate and ribitol long chains can appear in the cell walls. Moreover, lipoteichoic acid anchors to the cell membrane via diacylglycerol. The antigenic properties of lipoteichoic acid can stimulate specific immune responses.

Figure 2: Lipoteichoic Acid

In addition, lipoteichoic acid components of the cell wall mediate hydrophobic interactions between the pathogen and host cells.

Similarities Between Teichoic Acid and Lipoteichoic Acid

• Teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid are two copolymer compounds that occur in the bacterial cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria.

Difference Between Teichoic Acid and Lipoteichoic Acid

Definition

Teichoic acid refers to a compound present in the walls of Gram-positive bacteria and is a polymer of ribitol or glycerol phosphate while lipoteichoic acid refers to a primary component of the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria.

Significance

Usually, teichoic acid is a bacterial copolymer of glycerol phosphate or ribitol phosphate and carbohydrates linked by phosphodiester bonds while lipoteichoic acid is the teichoic acid anchored to the lipid membrane.

Function

The main function of teichoic acid is to give flexibility to the cell wall by attracting cations such as calcium and potassium while lipoteichoic acid is an antigenic target that stimulates specific immune responses.

Conclusion

In brief, teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid are two structural components of the bacterial cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. Generally, teichoic acid is a copolymer of glycerol phosphate or ribitol phosphate and carbohydrates linked by phosphodiester bonds. Lipoteichoic acid, on the other hand, is a primary component of the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria. The main function of teichoic acid is to provide flexibility to the bacterial cell wall by attracting cations such as calcium and potassium while lipoteichoic acid serves as an antigenic target to stimulate specific immune responses. Therefore, the main difference between teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid is their function.

References:

1. “Teichoic Acid.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Aug. 2022.
2. “Lipoteichoic Acid.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Oct. 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Teichoic acid” By User:Innerstream – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Gram pos neg” By Roadnottaken – Own Work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia