Microbiology Ch 4 "Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells

List the chief distinguishing characteristics of Prokaryotes

1. DNA not enclosed, usually single circular chromosome
2. DNA contains no "histones"
3. Lack membrane enclosed organelles
4. Cell walls have polysaccharide "peptidoglycan"
5. Cells reproduce via binary fission

List the chief distinguishing characteristics of Eukaryotes

1. DNA in nucleus, separated by nuclear membrane, multiple chromosomes
2. DNA has protein "histones"
3. Organelles enclosed in membranes
4. Cell walls are simple
5. Cells reproduce via mitosis

Most bacteria range from ___ to ___ micrometers in diameter; and ___ to ___ micrometers in length

diameter: 0.2 - 2.0 micrometers
length: 2 - 8 micrometers

coccus

spherical shape of bacteria

bacillus

rod-shape of bacteria

What are the 3 basic shapes of bacteria?

coccus, bacillus, spiral

diplococci

cocci bacteria that remain in pairs after dividing

streptococci

cocci bacteria that form a chain pattern after dividing

tetrads

cocci bacteria that form a group of 4 after dividing

sarcinae

cocci bacteria that form a cube of 8 after dividing

diplobaccilli

pairs of bacilli after dividing

streptobacilli

chains of bacilli after dividing

coccobacilli

oval shaped bacilli, named so because they closely resemble cocci bacteria

vibrios

curved (sprial) rod-shaped bacteria

spirilla

corkscrew (helical) shaped spiral bacteria that are rigid

monomorphic bacteria

bacteria that maintain a single shape due to heredity

pleomorphic bacteria

bacteria that can take on different shapes, due to their heredity

List the possible structures external to a prokaryotic cell wall

1. glycocalyx
2. flagella
3. axial filaments
4. filaments
5. fimbriae
6. pili

Glycocalyx

a sugar coating secreted by prokaryotes that is viscous and gelatinous

Capsule

a type of glycocalyx that is organized and firmly attached to a cell wall of a prokaryote

Slime layer

a type of glycocalyx that is unorganized and loosely attached to the cell wall of a prokaryote

What is the purpose of a prokaryote's capsule?

It may protect the bacteria from phagocytosis by host cells

Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)

a type of glycocalyx that helps cells in a biofilm attach to their target environment, and aids in communication among the biofilm cells

Flagella

long, filamentous appendages that propel bacteria

Atrichous

bacteria without flagella or other projections

Peritrichous

Flagella are found around the entire surface of the cell

Polar (re: flagella)

Flagella are found at one or both ends of the cell

Monotrichous

a single flagella is found at one pole of the cell

Lophotrichous

a tuft of flagella comes out of one pole

Amphitrichous

flagella are at both ends of the cell

What are the 3 main parts of a flagella?

filament, hook, basal body

Compare the flagella of a gram-negative bacteria from a gram-positive one

the basal body contains 2 pairs of rings (inner and outer) anchored to the plasma membrane; in a gram-positive bacteria, only the inner pair is present

A. Monotrichous polar
B. Lophotrichous polar
C. Amphitrichous polar
D. Petrichous

Label the bacteria based on the arrangement of its flagella

How does the prokaryote flagellum aid the bacteria to move?

The basal body of the flagella rotates, forming a bundle that pushes against the surrounding liquid, propelling the bacteria forward

motility

the ability of an organism to move by itself

Bacteria "Runs

term that describes the motility of some bacteria, in which the movement is in one direction

Bacteria "Tumbles

term that describes the motility of some bacteria, in which the movement in one direction is interrupted by these brief, random changes in direction caused by the reversal of flagellar rotation

What is the advantage of bacteria motility?

allows the bacteria to move toward favorable environments or away from unfavorable ones

Taxis

the movement of bacteria toward or away from a specific stimulis

chemotaxis

chemical stimuli that causes bacteria to move away/toward it

phototaxis

light stimuli that causes bacteria to move away/toward it

chemotactic attractant

a chemical signal that causes a bacteria to move toward it

chemotactic repellant

a chemical signal that causes bacteria to move away from it

serovars

variations within a species of bacteria

Spirochetes

a group of helical spiral bacteria have axial filaments (endoflagella) capable of movement

Axial filaments / Endoflagella

bundles of fibrils that arise at the ends of the cell beneath an outer sheath and spiral around the cell (i.e. flagella found inside the cell); these bundles allow for the movement of spirochetes

Fimbriae

hairlike appendages on bacteria that are shorter than flagella, these tend to adhere to each other and to surfaces outside the cell. They tend to be be at the poles of a bacteria, or evenly distributed across the surface.

Pili

hairlike appendages on bacteria allow for motility or DNA transfer, these are longer than fimbriae and number 1-2

Twitching motility

the type of movement of bacteria involving a pilus (pili) that makes contact with the surface of another cell, then retracts in a powerstroke

Gliding motility

the type of movement of bacteria involving smooth, gliding movement of myxobacteria

Conjugation (sex) pili

bacterial pili that are involved in the transfer of DNA from one cell to another

What is the function of a bacteria cell wall?

- prevents it from rupturing when water pressure inside the cell is greater than that outside the cell
- helps it maintain shape
- anchors flagella
- contributes to its ability to cause disease (invade hosts)

What distinguishes the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria from Gram-negative

- Gram-positive bacteria's cell walls have many layers of peptidoglycan, forming a thick rigid structure
- Gram-positive bacteria cell walls contain teichoic acids which span the peptidoglycan layers
- Gram-negative bacteria's cell walls thin layers of pe

What is the function of teichoic acids in the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria?

- bind and regulate the movement of (cations) ions in/out of the cell
- play a role in cell growth
- prevent damage to cell
- provides antigen specificity

Which type of bacteria are more resistant to mechanical breakage (Gram-positive or -negative)? Why?

Gram-positive; because the cell walls of gram-negative cell walls contain only a small amount of peptidoglycan

Protoplast

a Gram-positive cell that has undergone cell wall destruction by lysozyme

Spheroplast

a Gram-negative cell that has undergone cell wall destruction by lysozyme

L-forms of prokaryotes

prokaryotic cells that have lost their cell walls and swelled into irregularly shaped cells

osmotic lysis

rupturing of a prokaryotic cell due to strong osmotic pressure outside the cell

plasma membranes

a thin structure lying inside the cell wall, encloses the cell's cytoplasm

CARDS STOPPED AT P. 89 2ND COLUMN "PLASMA MEMBRANE

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