Lysozyme is frequently found in such extracellular bodily fluids

assaliva and tears. It serves as a function in a first line

ofdefense against bacterial infections; however; it is not

effectiveagainst archaeal invaders. Explain.

Lysozyme in the body fluid protects us from bacterial infection by damaging the cell wall of bacteria which ultimately kills the bacteria.

The bacterial cell wall is made up of NAG and NAM units which is joined by β (1-4) glycosidic bond. Lysozyme attacks on this bond and breaks it causing the damage in the cell wall of bacteria which leads to the death of bacteria.

Archaeal cell wall do not contain β (1-4) glycosidic linkage, it contains β (1-3) glycosidic linkage in its cell wall between NAT and NAG unit and lysozyme do not able to break β (1-3) glycosidic linkage between them so lysozyme do not cause any harm to the archaeal invaders.