frumuveggja

Frumuveggja refers to the cell wall, a rigid layer that surrounds the plasma membrane of certain types of cells. This outer layer provides structural support and protection to the cell. The composition of the cell wall varies significantly depending on the organism. In plants, the primary component is cellulose, a complex carbohydrate. Fungal cell walls are typically made of chitin, another polysaccharide. Bacteria have cell walls composed mainly of peptidoglycan. Archaea also possess cell walls, but their composition can differ from bacteria and eukaryotes, often lacking peptidoglycan.

The presence and structure of a cell wall play a crucial role in maintaining cell shape, preventing excessive water uptake (osmotic lysis), and acting as a barrier against pathogens. In some cases, cell walls can also be involved in cell-to-cell communication and interactions with the environment. The absence of a cell wall is characteristic of animal cells and some protists. The differences in cell wall composition are important for classification and understanding the biology of various organisms. For instance, the susceptibility of bacterial cell walls to certain antibiotics, like penicillin which inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis, is a key factor in their therapeutic effectiveness.