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The periplasmic space or periplasm is a space between the inner cytoplasmic membrane and external outer membrane
Outer membrane

The bacterial outer membrane is found in Gram-negative bacteria. Its composition is distinct from that of the cytoplasmic membrane - among other things, the outer leaflet of the membrane include a complex lipopolysaccharide whose lipid portion acts as an endotoxin - and it is linked to the cell's peptidoglycan by Braun's lipoprotein....
 of Gram-negative
Gram-negative

Gram-negative bacteria are those bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color....
 bacteria or the equivalent space between the cell membrane and cell wall in Gram-positive bacteria. It may constitute up to 40% of the total cell volume in Gram-negative species, and is drastically smaller in Gram-positive.

Gram-negative

The space contains a loose network of murein (peptidoglycan) chains, as well as a gel containing hydrolytic and degradative enzymes.






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The periplasmic space or periplasm is a space between the inner cytoplasmic membrane and external outer membrane
Outer membrane

The bacterial outer membrane is found in Gram-negative bacteria. Its composition is distinct from that of the cytoplasmic membrane - among other things, the outer leaflet of the membrane include a complex lipopolysaccharide whose lipid portion acts as an endotoxin - and it is linked to the cell's peptidoglycan by Braun's lipoprotein....
 of Gram-negative
Gram-negative

Gram-negative bacteria are those bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color....
 bacteria or the equivalent space between the cell membrane and cell wall in Gram-positive bacteria. It may constitute up to 40% of the total cell volume in Gram-negative species, and is drastically smaller in Gram-positive.

Gram-negative

The space contains a loose network of murein (peptidoglycan) chains, as well as a gel containing hydrolytic and degradative enzymes. Other enzymes in the gel are involved in various biochemical pathways including peptidoglycan synthesis, electron transport, and alteration of substances toxic to the cell (xenobiotic metabolism
Xenobiotic metabolism

Xenobiotic metabolism is the set of metabolic pathways that modify the chemical structure of xenobiotics, which are compounds foreign to an organism's normal biochemistry, such as drugs and poisons....
). In some species, the gel also contains beta-lactamase
Beta-lactamase

Beta-lactamases are enzymes produced by some bacteria and are responsible for their antibiotic resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins, cephalosporins , cephamycins, and carbapenems ....
, an enzyme responsible for degrading penicillin
Penicillin

Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They are Beta-lactam antibiotics used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible, usually Gram-positive, organisms....
. This can be of clinical importance when considering antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of antibiotics. It is a specific type of drug resistance. Antibiotic resistance evolves via natural selection acting upon random mutation, but it can also be engineered by applying an evolutionary stress on a population....
.

Gram-positive

Further reading

  • D. White, The Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000, pp. 22.