BIO 205 Prokaryotic structure and function

cell

Basic unit of life

growth, reproduction, responsiveness, metabolism

What are the four characteristics of life?

DNA, cytoplasm, cell membrane, ribosomes

what are the basic structures in all cells?

Prokaryotes are small, simple, have no organelles, include organisms from Kingdom Monera and Domain Archae and Bacteria.

Eukaryotes are large, complex, have organelles, include organisms from Kingdom Animalia, Plantae, Fungi and Protista and Domain Eukarya

Compare and Contrast Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells

Cytoplasm

A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are housed

cytosol

gel-like fluid filling the cytoplasm and offering support, cell to cell communication and transport

ribosomes

made of ribosomal RNA and protein, synthesize proteins

Cell/plasma membrane

cell boundary/controls traffic in and out of cell

DNA

double helix of nucleotides/sugar/phosphate that hold the cell's genetic blueprint

Glycocalyx

sticky meshwork of protein and sugar that surrounds the cell providing a protective barrier

capsule

form of a glycocalyx that is permanently attached to the cell wall

slime layer

form of a glycocalyx that is loosely attached to the cell wall

fl

Flagella/Flagellum

hair-like projections that rotate, and move bacteria

Fimbriae

sticky, proteinaceous extensions of some bacterial cells that function to adhere cells to one another and to environmental surfaces/function to form plaques

Pilli/Pilus

long protein extension through which bacterial sex (exchange of genetic information) can happen. Has a grappling hook for movement

bacterial cell wall

made of peptidoglycan/maintains structure and shape of cell and protects it from osmotic forces

inclusions

excess nutrients that are stored for bacteria to use when needed

They make it more pathogenic

What is the benefit of a bacteria having multiple external structures?

peptido = amino acid/protein

glycan = sugar (NAM/NAG)

What is the structure of peptidoglycan?

2 layers (cell wall and cell membrane), cell wall 300 layers thick, cell wall has teichoic acid which anchors it to the cell membrane, adds to the overall negative charge, and increases ion permeability

Describe a Gram (+) bacteria cell wall

3 layers (outer membrane, cell wall, cell membrane), cell wall is 2-3 layers thick, outer membrane is made from lipopolysaccharides that protect the cell wall from things like target antibiotics.

Describe a Gram (-) bacteria cell wall

endospore

hearty, dormant, resistant structures that ONLY Clostridium and Bacillus can change into when death is imminent

Sporulation

process by which a bacteria (vegetative cell) becomes an endospore

Germination

process by which an endospore becomes a bacterium (vegetative cell)

Bacillus and Clostridium

what two genera of bacteria produce endospores