In this video, we're going to begin our lesson on the glycocalyx along with capsules and slime layers. Most bacteria are surrounded by a layer of a sticky gel-like substance called the glycocalyx. This glycocalyx is a complex polysaccharide and creates a layer surrounding the outside of the cell. This glycocalyx layer is represented in the image down below as a yellow border surrounding the cells.
They could be surrounding either gram-negative cells or gram-positive cells. Once again, this is the glycocalyx. This glycocalyx promotes the adhesion of cells to solid surfaces and to other cells as well, allowing cells to stick onto surfaces and to each other. It also plays an important protective role. It protects the cell from dehydration by helping to retain water, and it can also collect nutrients from the environment for energy purposes.
Since it's so sticky, it can stick and collect nutrients. If we take a look at this image down below, once again, the glycocalyx is the yellow border that is surrounding the perimeter of the cell. If you zoom in, what we have here is the glycocalyx, shown as a complex polysaccharide structure that is going to be surrounding the perimeter of the cell. In our images, we represent the glycocalyx with a yellow background as you see here. Now, there are actually different categories of the glycocalyx based on the composition of its structure.
We'll be able to talk more about the different categories of the glycocalyx, like capsules and slime layers, in our next video. So, I'll see you guys there.