Gram-negative bacteria have a distinctive cell envelope composed of three key layers. The innermost layer is the cytoplasmic (inner) membrane, which regulates transport and maintains cellular integrity. Outside this is the periplasmic space, a gel-like area containing enzymes and proteins involved in nutrient processing and defense. The outermost layer is the outer membrane, which contains lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that contribute to the structural barrier, immune evasion, and pathogenicity. This multilayered structure differentiates gram-negative bacteria from gram-positive bacteria, which lack an outer membrane and have a much thicker peptidoglycan layer.