Bactoprenol

Bactoprenol is a lipid synthesized by three different species of lactobacilli. It is a hydrophobic C₅₅ isoprenoid.

Bactoprenol phosphate transports NAM and NAG across the cell membrane during the synthesis of peptidoglycan, by flipping the repeating monomer units from the cytoplasm to the periplasm. Bactoprenol remains in the membrane at all times.

Bacitracin inhibits the recycling of pyrophosphobactoprenol to the inner leaflet.