Fig. 4.

Model of stored growth in E. coli. Green bars represent glycan strands and red bars represent peptide cross-links. The blue sphere represents the peptidoglycan synthetic machinery, which includes MreB. New glycan polymers are inserted such that cross-linking peptides buckle out of the plane of the cell wall. These cross-links are subsequently extended if turgor pressure is positive. During periods of plasmolysis, elongation is “stored” in these polypeptide loops, which become fully extended when positive turgor pressure is restored.