Key Vocab From All Exams

Topoisomerase I

In bacteria, creates single strand DNA nicks and releases supercoiling.

Topoisomerase II

In bacteria, creates double strand DNA nicks and can create or release supercoiling.

mreB

Cytoskeleton of bacilli; helps to segregate chromosomes. If removed, bacilli become coccoid.

FtsZ

Contractile ring that divides a bacterial cell in two.

FtsA and ZipA

Tether FtsZ to the cytoplasmic membrane

FtsI

Performs cell wall (peptidoglycan) synthesis during bacterial cell division

FtsK

Helps mreB segregate the chromosomes

MinC and MinD

Inhibit FtsZ formation at poles to ensure symmetric cell division

MinE

Inhibits MinC and MinD to allow FtsZ to divide a bacterial cell

Bactoprenol (undecaprenol)

Carries newly-formed peptidoglycan across the cytoplasmic membrane

Autolysins

Break glycosidic bond in the peptidoglycan layer during new PG synthesis

Endopeptidases

Break peptide bonds in the peptidoglycan layer during new PG synthesis

Transpeptidases

Create new peptide bonds in the PG layer during peptidoglycan synthesis

Glycosyltransferases

Create new glycosidic bonds in the PG layer during peptidoglycan synthesis

Carboxypeptidases

Cleave off optional 5th amino acid attached to NAM during peptidoglycan synthesis

Chemo-

This prefix indicates an organism obtains its energy from chemical compounds

Photo-

This prefix indicates an organism gets its energy from light.

litho-

This word part indicates an organism uses inorganic compounds (H₂ , H₂S) as reduced electron carriers.

organo-

This word part indicates an organism uses organic compounds (NADH, FADH₂) as reduced electron carriers.

-heterotroph

This suffix indicates an organism gets its carbon from non-CO₂ sources.

-autotroph

This suffix indicates an organism gets its carbon from CO₂.

AsmA

Shuttles lipids to the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria.

MsbA and lpt

Transports lipopolysaccaride (LPS) to the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria.

Sec system

This system secretes a protein linearly outside the cytoplasmic membrane with ATP

Tat system

This system secretes a folded protein outside the cytoplasmic membrane using PMF

Bam and lol systems

These systems insert proteins into the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria.

DnaA

Binds to origin of replication in bacteria and opens the strands up for DNA replication

DnaB

Helicase for bacterial DNA replication

DnaC

Brings DnaB (helicase) to the origin of replication during bacterial DNA replication

DnaG

Primase for DNA replication in bacteria

DNA polymerase III

Primary replicative enzyme for DNA in bacteria. Has 3’→ 5’ exonuclease activity

DNA polymerase I

This removes RNA primers during DNA replication in bacteria. Features 3’ → 5’ and 5’ → 3’ exonuclease activity.

tus

This protein binds to ter sites on bacterial DNA, forming a complex with directionality that allows or terminates the continued movement of the replisome.

Topoisomerase IV

breaks apart the 2 chromosomes yielded from bacterial DNA replication

ParA and ParB

Proteins that segregate the 2 chromosomes yielded from bacterial DNA replication

RecG, RecBCD, SbcCD, exol, DNA ligase, DNA polymerase I

This ‘chromosome resolution team’ is what binds the two half-chromosomes together after bacterial DNA replication.

RNase III

Processes 16s rRNA

RNase G

processes 23s rRNA

disease prevalence

Total number of new and existing cases in a population in a given time. (expressed per 100,000 people)

disease incidence

Total number of new cases in a population in a given time. (expressed per 100,000 people)

morbidity

presence of a diseased condition: high morbidity = lots of people have the disease. Expressed as prevalence.

mortality

measure of deaths in a population due to any given cause

endemic disease

Found constantly, naturally occurring in a population at a low incidence rate.

epidemic disease

Occurs in a large number of people in a population at the same time

Pandemic disease

Widespread/worldwide

Sporadic disease

Usually not present in a population and occurs infrequently.

Incubation phase

Time between infection and symptom onset

Prodromal phase

Early, mild infection symptoms are present after incubation is complete.

Illness phase

Characteristic, most severe symptoms of disease appear. Amount of pathogens are highest in the body at this phase.

Decline phase

Symptoms subside, pathogen population decreases in the body

Convalescence phase

Pathogens have all been killed off in the body for the most part, tissue repair begins.