Bacterial Cell Structure

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to bacterial cell structure, including shapes, arrangements, transport mechanisms, and structures.

Bacterial Shape

Refers to the morphology of bacteria, which includes shapes such as cocci, bacilli, and spirilla.

Staphylococcus

A type of bacteria that forms clusters resembling grapes.

Coccus

A spherical-shaped bacterium.

Spirillum

A rigid, spiral-shaped bacterium.

Chlamydia

A genus of bacteria that are obligate intracellular pathogens.

Pleomorphic

Bacteria that can have variable shapes and lack a single characteristic form.

Gram-positive

Bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining protocol.

Gram-negative

Bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain and instead take up the red counterstain.

Peptidoglycan

A polymer that forms a structural component of the bacterial cell wall.

LipoPolysaccharide (LPS)

A major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, consisting of lipid A, a core polysaccharide, and an O antigen.

Symport

A type of secondary active transport in which two substances are transported in the same direction across a membrane.

Antiport

A secondary active transport mechanism where two substances are moved in opposite directions.

ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters

A type of primary active transporter that uses ATP to move substances across the membrane.

Endospore

A dormant, resistant structure formed by some bacteria to survive harsh environmental conditions.

S-layer

A protective layer composed of protein or glycoprotein that envelops the cell wall in some bacteria and archaea.

Chemotaxis

The movement of an organism in response to a chemical stimulus.

Plasmid

A circular, extrachromosomal piece of DNA that can replicate independently of chromosomal DNA.

FtsZ

A cytoskeletal protein critical for bacterial cell division, analogous to tubulin.

Cytoplasmic Membranes

The inner barrier of the cell that regulates what enters and exits the cell.

Conjugative plasmids

Plasmids that facilitate the mechanism of horizontal gene transfer between bacteria.