Final answer:
Both lipoteichoic and mycolic acids are components of bacterial cell walls, with lipoteichoic acids found in Gram-positive bacteria and mycolic acids characteristic of the Mycobacteriaceae family.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question “Which of the following may be a component of bacterial cell walls?” is E) both lipoteichoic and mycolic acids. Bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan, which consists of polysaccharide chains cross-linked by peptides. In Gram-positive bacteria, the cell wall includes many layers of peptidoglycan along with teichoic acids, such as lipoteichoic acids, which are embedded within the peptidoglycan layer. Furthermore, certain Gram-positive bacteria, specifically those in the family Mycobacteriaceae, have a characteristic external layer of waxy mycolic acids. Therefore, regarding bacterial cell wall composition, both lipoteichoic acids and mycolic acids may be present depending on the type of bacteria.