Meaning & use
periplasm
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In biology, the space between the inner and outer membranes of certain bacterial cells.
See it in a sentence
Enzymes secreted into the periplasm help the bacterium break down large molecules before they enter the cell.
Researchers study the periplasm to understand how gram-negative bacteria resist antibiotics.
A note on using this word
A specialized term used mainly in microbiology; it applies chiefly to gram-negative bacteria, which have both inner and outer membranes.
Words with a similar meaning
periplasmic space
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