UTA Worksheet #4 - Lecture 6: Prokaryotes Terminology

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering prokaryotic cell terminology and antibacterial agents from Lecture 6.

Cell theory

Posits that cells are the fundamental units of life, all living organisms are composed of cells which come from preexisting cells, and that cells evolved from a common ancestral cell(s).

Nucleoid

Region of a prokaryotic cell where the cell's genetic material is located.

Peptidoglycan

Polymer of carbohydrates and peptides that forms bacterial cell walls.

Gram-positive

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan cell wall that stain purple with a Gram stain.

Gram-negative

Bacteria with a thin peptidoglycan cell wall located between the outer and inner cell membrane.

Fluid Mosaic Model

Describes the cell membrane as a flexible, moving membrane where lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates are dynamic and shifting.

Proton motive force

Stored energy from the electrochemical gradient of protons pushed across a biological membrane to power the flagella motor.

FtsZ

Tubulin-like cytoskeletal protein that forms a ring-shaped structure during cell division.

MreB

Actin-like protein that maintains cell shape, forms filaments inside the cell, and assists in plasmid segregation.

Lysozyme

Enzyme that attacks peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls.

Transpeptidase

Enzyme that catalyzes cross-linking in bacterial cell walls by connecting adjacent glycine strands with short peptide chains.

Flagella

Whip-like appendages that rotate by a complex motor protein, allowing prokaryotes to move.

Flagellin

Protein that composes flagellum.

Pili

Longer, less-numerous protein appendages that assist surface attachment.

Fimbriae

Numerous short bristle-like protein appendages that assist surface attachment.

Cytoskeleton

Composed of protein filaments, performs functions in cell division, cell movement, and cell shape.

Plasma membrane

A selectively permeable barrier enclosing intracellular space, with glycoproteins and glycolipids attached to the extracellular side.

Antibiotics

Antibacterial agents, such as vancomycin and penicillin.

Vancomycin

Antibacterial agent that binds D-Alanine, blocking formation of cross-bridges between neighboring peptides.

Penicillin

Antibacterial agent that inhibits transpeptidase.