Lecture Module 3: Prokaryotic Cells

What are the four structures found in all cells?

Cell/plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and chromosomes

The cell/plasma membrane is primarily responsible for _____.

Separating the living cell from the non-living environment

Cytoplasm is the _____ primarily made out of _____.

Semi-fluid substance inside the cell; water

Ribosomes are primarily responsible for _____.

Protein synthesis

Chromosomes refer to the _____ molecules that _____.

DNA; carry genes/genetic information

Prokaryotic cells are considered “_____ nucleus” and includes _____ and _____.

Pre; bacteria; archaea

Eukaryotic cells are considered “_____ nucleus” and include _____, _____, and _____.

True; plants; animals; fungi

Prokaryotic cells have _____ (number), _____ (shape) chromosomes with (presence or absence of nuclear membrane). Eukaryotic cells have _____ (number), _____ (shape) chromosomes inside their nucleus with _____ (presence or absence of nuclear membrane).

One (or few); circular; no nuclear membrane; paired; linear; a nuclear membrane

Prokaryotic cells have _____ (presence vs. absence of histones). Eukaryotic cells have _____ (presence vs. absence of histones).

No histones; histones

Prokaryotic cells reproduce via _____ reproduction, specifically through _____. Eukaryotic cells reproduce via _____ reproduction, specifically through _____.

Asexual; binary fission; sexual; cytoskeleton that forms mitotic spindle

Prokaryotic cells have _____ organelles (membrane-bound vs. non-membrane bound). Eukaryotic cells have _____ organelles (membrane-bound vs. non-membrane-bound).

Non-membrane-bound; membrane-bound

Prokaryotic cells have _____ (presence vs. absence of ribosomes). Eukaryotic cells have _____ (presence vs. absence of ribosomes).

Ribosomes; ribosomes

Prokaryotic cells have _____ (presence vs. absence of cell membranes). Eukaryotic cells have _____ (presence vs. absence of cell membranes).

Cell membranes; cell membranes

Prokaryotic cells have _____ cell walls in bacteria and _____ cell walls in archaea, which are both _____ and _____ cell walls. Eukaryotic cell walls have _____ cell walls in fungi and _____ cell walls in plants and algae, which are both _____/_____ cell walls.

Peptidoglycan; pseudomurein; sugar; protein; chitin; cellulose; polysaccharide/sugar

Prokaryotic cells are relatively _____ (size), while eukaryotic cells are relatively _____ (size).

Small; large

The approximate size of a bacterium is _____. Cocci have a circumference of about _____, while rods have a width of _____ and a length of _____.

1 µm/micron; 1 µm/micron; 1 µm/micron; 2 µm/micron

Are most bacteria monomorphic or pleomorphic? What do these two terms mean?

Most bacteria are monomorphic; monomorphic = only one shape possible; pleomorphic = many shapes possible depending on conditions

Bacillus bacteria look like _____.

Rods

Coccus bacteria look like _____.

Spheres

Vibrio bacteria look like _____.

Curved rods

Spirillum bacteria look like _____.

Tight, rigid helixes

Spirochete bacteria look like _____.

Flexible spirals

Some unusual shapes for bacteria include _____ and _____.

Stars; rectangles

What is the difference between bacillus and Bacillus?

Bacillus refers to a shape, while Bacillus refers to a scientific name/genus

T/F: All Bacillus bacteria are bacillus-shaped, but not all bacillus-shaped bacteria are Bacillus bacteria.

True

A diplo- bacterial arrangement refers to _____ of bacteria, which include _____ and _____.

Pairs; diplococci; diplobacilli

A strepto- bacterial arrangement refers to _____ of bacteria, which include _____ and _____.

Chains; streptococci; streptobacilli

A staphylo- bacterial arrangement refers to _____ of bacteria, which include _____ but not _____.

Clusters; staphylococci; staphylobacillus

What are some structures some but not all bacteria possess? (13)

S layer, fimbriae, outer membrane, cell wall, cytoskeleton, pili, glycocalyx, inclusions, plasmids, flagella, endospores, nanotubes/nanowires

The glycocalyx refers to a _____, _____ layer in prokaryotic cells made of _____ or _____ (less common). A slime layer is a type of glycocalyx that is _____ organized and _____ attached, while a capsule is a type of glycocalyx that is _____ organized and _____ attached.

Gelatinous; external; polysaccharides; polypeptides; loosely; loosely; highly; tightly

A capsule is a type of _____ that is highly organized and tightly attached.

Glycocalyx

The slime layer/capsule, which are both considered a type of _____, function to prevent _____ and _____, contribute to _____ (making bacteria _____ and allowing for the production of a _____), act as a _____ factor (meaning that bacteria can _____), confer 1000x more resistance to _____ and _____, and protect bacteria from _____.

Glycocalyx; dehydration; nutrient loss; adherence; sticky; biofilm; virulence; cause disease; antibiotics; disinfectants; phagocytosis

Capsule-producing organisms can be remembered with the mnemonic “some killers have pretty nice capsules:” _____, _____, _____, _____, _____ and _____, and _____.

Streptococcus pneumoniae; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Cryptococcus neoformans

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes _____. Vaccines against this bacteria include _____, _____, and _____.

Pneumonia; Prevnar 13; Prevnar 23; Pneumovax

Klebsiella pneumoniae causes _____. There is currently _____.

Pneumonia; no vaccine available

Haemophilus influenzae causes _____ or _____. The vaccine against this bacteria is _____. This bacteria is common in _____.

Pneumonia; meningitis; HiB; young kids

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes _____. This is technically not a _____, as it forms a _____.

Infection in burn victims; capsule; slime

Neisseria meningitidis causes _____. The vaccine for this bacteria is the _____ vaccine.

Meningitis; meningococcal

Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes _____. There is currently _____.

Gonorrhea; no vaccine available

Cryptococcus neoformans refers to a _____ (type of unicellular _____) found in _____ that can get into the _____ and cause infection in _____.

Yeast; fungi; bird droppings; lungs; AIDS patients

When growing in an animal, Bacillus anthracis produces a capsule that is resistant to phagocytosis. This capsule is composed of the amino acid D-glutamic acid. This capsule is resistant to digestion by the host’s phagocytes because the _____ is relatively unique. _____ are more common in nature/_____, preventing the host from performing phagocytic digestion of foreign invaders. This means that white blood cells may be able to _____ it, but not able to destroy it.

Glycocalyx; L-amino acids; familiar to the host; engulf

Biofilms are _____ that form _____ or _____.

Complex intermicrobial communities; slime; hydrogels

Bacteria are attracted by chemicals via quorum sensing, a type of _____ via homoserine lactone. _____ typically produce slime or capsules on an organic surface coating. As cells divide, they form a _____ bound together by sticky extracellular deposits. Additional microbes are attracted to the developing film and create a mature community with complex function.

Cell-to-cell signaling; first colonists; dense mat

What advantage do the pillar-like structures give bacteria in a biofilm?

The pillar-like structures can detach and move the bacteria to new locations

Common sites for biofilms include the _____/_____/_____, _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.

Nose/sinuses/ears; teeth; throat; heart; lungs; tissue wounds

Biofilms thrive in _____ environments, meaning they love _____.

Wet; mucous membranes

People with cystic fibrosis (the inability to _____) are susceptible to _____ development in their _____. _____ is the most common cause of death for cystic fibrosis patients. Current treatments target _____/_____.

Clear mucus; biofilm; respiratory cilia; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; quorum sensing/cell-to-cell signaling

Biofilms give bacteria the advantage of protection from _____ (including _____ shielding, _____ resistance, and _____ forces), host _____ (due to _____), and _____/_____ benefits (including _____ exchange, _____ behavior, and increased _____).

Environmental stressors; physical; chemical; mechanical; immune responses; adhesion; community/adaptation; genetic; cooperative; diversity

Biofilms allow bacteria to attach to _____ like _____ (or other plastic tubing, as it can pick up normal flora and bring it to places that are normally sterile), _____, and _____ (e.g. heart valves)

Medical equipment; catheters; implants; prosthetics

What are the three parts of the prokaryotic flagellum?

Filament, hook, and basal body

The filament of a flagellum contains the globular protein _____ (also known as the _____) arranged in several chains that intertwine and form a helix around a hollow cone.

Flagellin; H antigen

The hook of a flagellum helps to _____.

Move the flagella

The basal body of a flagellum helps to _____.

Anchor the flagellum to the cell wall and plasma membrane

The S layer is a _____ layer of _____ of copies of a single _____ linked together like chainmail. This is only produced when bacteria are _____ (e.g. crowding, chemical exposure, antibiotics).

Single; thousands; protein; in a hostile environment

How does the basal body of flagellum vary for Gram (+) bacteria compared to Gram (-) bacteria?

The basal body in Gram (+) bacteria has less rings than the basal body in Gram (-) bacteria

Bacteria flagellum can be monotrichous, meaning _____.

There is 1 flagellum at 1 end

Bacteria flagellum can be lophotrichous, meaning _____.

There is more than 1 flagellum at 1 end

Bacteria flagellum can be amphitrichous, meaning _____.

Flagella tuft at both ends

Bacteria flagellum can be _____, meaning _____.

Flagella are found over the entire cell

Motile cells rotate their _____ to run or tumble. _____ rotation causes bacteria to run, while _____ rotation causes bacteria to tumble.

Flagella; counterclockwise; clockwise

Chemotaxis refers to _____. Positive chemotaxis refers to _____. Negative chemotaxis refers to _____.

Movement towards or away from chemical stimuli; movement towards chemical stimuli; movement away from chemical stimuli

Phototaxis refers to _____.

Movement towards or away from light stimuli

H-antigens, also known as _____, are _____ helpful in _____. One example is _____.

Flagellin; flagella proteins; determining strains of bacteria; E. coli O157:H7

Axial filaments/endoflagella are anchored at one end of a cell and _____, causing the cell to move like a _____. These are present in bacteria shaped like _____. An example of such a bacteria is _____, which causes _____. This bacteria enters the body through _____ using axial filaments/endoflagella. This disease is most commonly moved through rats, specifically their urine.

Rotate; corkscrew; spirochetes; Leptospira; leptospirosis; mucous membranes

All axial filaments are associated with _____ (Gram-negative vs. Gram-positive) bacteria, including _____.

Gram-negative; spirochetes

_____ are fine, proteinaceous, and hair-like bristles on the surface of a bacterial cell, used for _____, particularly _____. They allow bacteria to _____/_____. An example of a bacteria with this structure is _____.

Fimbriae; adhesion to surfaces and other cells; epithelial cells; colonize/infect host tissues; E. coli

Pili are rigid, _____ structures made of the pilin protein. They are found in _____ cells (Gram-negative vs. Gram-positive). Pili are used to _____ (also known as _____), act like _____ and assist in _____, and act like _____ and make a bacterium _____.

Tubular; Gram-negative; transfer genetic material; conjugation; fimbriae; attachment; flagella; motile

Pili allow for interactions between donor and recipient bacteria. A donor must have the _____ to make pili, making it _____. Recipients are considered _____ because they _____.

Gene for the pilin protein; F-positive; F-negative; do not have the gene for the pilin protein

Bacteria have to be _____ enough to use a sex pilus. _____ sex is not possible because _____.

Similar; interspecies; dissimilar bacteria can abort unwanted genes

_____ genes can be transferred during conjugation, including genes for _____, _____, _____, etc.

Any; fimbriae; F-factor; drug resistance

What are the two types of DNA sequences that can be found in the nucleoid region of prokaryotic cells?

Bacterial chromosomes and plasmids

Bacterial chromosomes refer to the _____ (number), _____ (shape), _____ (number of strands) chromosomes found in bacterial cells.

One; circular; double-stranded

Plasmids are _____ genetic elements that carry _____ genes (e.g. _____, _____, etc).

Extrachromosomal; non-crucial; antibiotic resistance; toxin production

_____ is the substance inside the plasma membrane. This consists of 80% _____ plus proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and ions. It serves as a pool for the building blocks of cell synthesis or sources of energy

Cytoplasm; water

The _____ is the area of a prokaryotic cell where the nucleus would be. It is extremely _____.

Nucleoid region; compact

T/F: Plasmids are often transferred more readily than bacterial chromosomes.

True

Ribosomes are composed of _____ and _____ and consist of a _____ subunit and _____ subunit. They are responsible for _____. Prokaryotic ribosomes are _____ in size, while eukaryotic ribosomes are _____ in size.

rRNA; protein; small; large; protein synthesis; 70S; 80S

Inclusions are _____ bodies that serve as _____.

Intracellular; temporary reserve deposits

Metachromatic granules (volutin) are a type of inclusion that functions in _____.

Phosphate reserves

Polysaccharide, lipid, and sulfur granules are a type of inclusion that function in _____.

Energy reserves

Carboxysomes are a type of inclusion that assist with the _____ needed for carbon fixation during _____.

Rubisco enzyme; photosynthesis

Gas vacuoles are a type of inclusion that help maintain _____ by acting as protein-covered cylinders.

Buoyancy

Magnetosomes are a type of _____ inclusion that help to _____.

Iron oxide; H2O2

An endospore is made out of _____ (a type of _____) and helps bacteria _____.

Keratin; protein; survive adverse environments for long periods of time

Adverse environments include environments where the _____, _____, or _____ is too high or too low, _____, _____, _____ (radiation), and _____/_____/_____.

pH; temperature; oxygen concentration; starvation; dehydration; UV light; antibiotics/disinfectants/antiseptics

The longevity of an endospore verges on _____, as endospores are fully _____.

Immortality; dehydrated

In the context of an endospore, _____ occurs when food, warmth, and moisture are adequate. Endospores are therefore more comparable to _____ than _____.

Germination; hibernation; reproduction

_____ is a type of endospore-forming bacteria that causes anthrax. It is found in soil and infected animals, and may be used as a bioweapon. Oxygen requirements are _____.

Bacillus anthracis; aerobic

_____ is a type of endospore-forming bacteria that causes botulism, also known as flaccid paralysis. It is found in soil and canned foods.

Clostridium botulinum

_____ is a type of endospore-forming bacteria that causes gas gangrene. It is found in soil and deep wounds.

Clostridium perfringes

_____ is an endospore-forming bacteria that causes tetanus, also known as spastic paralysis. It is found in soil and deep wounds

Clostridium tetani

_____ is an endospore-forming bacteria that causes colitis, specifically pseudomembranous colitis. It is found in feces and infected patients.

Clostridium difficile

What genus of endospore-forming bacteria tends to live in anaerobic environments?

Clostridium

Name 7 structures that may be contained in bacterial cytoplasm.

Bacterial chromosomes, ribosomes, plasmids, inclusions, endospores, cytoskeleton, cytoplasm

The cell wall helps prevent _____, protects the _____, and contributes to _____. It is primarily made of _____ in bacteria.

Osmotic lysis; cell membrane; pathogenicity; peptidoglycan

The cell wall is found _____ of the cell membrane.

Outside

Plasmolysis refers to when placement in a _____ solution causes the cell to _____. Osmotic lysis refers to when placement in a _____ solution causes the cell to _____.

Hypertonic; shrivel; hypotonic; swell

Cell membranes are semi-permeable, meaning that _____ passes freely, but _____ does not.

Water; salt

Peptidoglycan is a polymer of _____, particularly _____ and _____. Rows of carbohydrates are linked by _____.

Disaccharides; NAG; NAM; polypeptides

Gram (+) bacteria consist of two types of _____ made of alcohol and phosphate. These are _____ charged, allowing them to bind and regulate the movement of _____ into and out of the cell. _____ links the cell wall to plasma membrane, while _____ links layers of peptidoglycan. These are considered _____ (any substance that causes an immune response), making it possible to identify bacteria through lab tests. Gram (+) also have _____ peptidoglycan.

Teichoic acids; negatively; cations; lipoteichoic acid; wall teichoic acid; antigenic; thick