🧫 Inclusions (Granules)

What are bacterial inclusions (granules)?

Storage sites inside bacterial cells where nutrients or other molecules are kept when abundant.

What is the function of bacterial inclusions?

They serve as reserves of energy or building materials for the cell, similar to a bacterial "pantry" for survival when nutrients are scarce.

What do glycogen granules store?

Glycogen granules store glucose, which is the main energy source for the cell.

What do polyphosphate granules store and why is it important?

Polyphosphate granules store phosphate, which is important for the synthesis of ATP and nucleic acids.

What is Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)?

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a lipid storage material found in bacterial inclusions.

Why are some inclusions called metachromatic granules?

Some inclusions are called metachromatic granules because they stain differently with certain dyes.

Give an example of a bacterium that contains metachromatic granules.

Metachromatic granules are found in Corynebacterium species.