What is the role of peptidoglycan?

Peptidoglycan is an essential component of the bacterial cell wall in certain species of bacteria. Found as a rigid envelope on the outside of the cytoplasmic membrane, peptidoglycan plays a critical role in withstanding turgor thereby preserving cell morphology and protecting the bacterial cell from environmental stress. Despite its unyielding structure, peptidoglycan has sufficient plasticity so as not to hinder cell growth and division.