Bacterial Peptidoglycan, Chitin, and Chitosan

Complementary to hydrolysis by lysozyme189, an endo-acting N-acetyl-/ -D-glucosaminidase190-192 degrades bacterial cell-wall peptidoglycan to the disaccharide N-acetyl-/J-muramoyl-( 1 - 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose. 

The resistance of Bacillus cereus cell-wall peptidoglycan to lysozyme action200 is due to the majority of the 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucosyl residues having free (nonsubstituted) amino groups. Polysaccharide and peptide components of the cell walls were converted into material susceptible to lysozyme by N-acetylation with acetic anhydride. 

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