Gram-negative
As opposed to gram-positive cells, gram-negative cells are resistant to lysozyme and penicillin attack whereas gram-positive cells are vulnerable to lysozyme and penicillin attack. The gram-negative outer membrane which contains LPS, an endotoxin, blocks antibiotics, dyes, and detergents protecting the sensitive inner membrane and cell wall.
LPS is significant in membrane transport of gram-negative bacteria. LPS, which includes O-antigen, a core polysaccharide and a Lipid A, coats the cell surface and works to exclude large hydrophobic compounds such as bile salts and antibiotics from invading the cell. O-antigen are long hydrophilic carbohydrate chains (up to 50 sugars long) that extend out from the outer membrane while Lipid A (and fatty acids) anchors the LPS to the outer membrane.
Examples of gram-negative bacteria:
Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria have a cell wall made up of peptidoglycan and a phospholipid bilayer with membrane-spanning proteins. However, gram-negative bacteria have a unique outer membrane, a thinner layer of peptidoglycan, and a periplasmic space between the cell wall and the membrane. In the outer membrane, gram-negative bacteria have lipopolysaccharides (LPS), porin channels, and murein lipoprotein all of which gram-positive bacteria lack.
Spirochetes (spiral-shaped) - causes syphilis, lyme disease
Neisseria (cocci) - causes meningococcus, gonorrhea
