16.1-16.3 Flashcards
Stress response systems help bacteria
adapt and survive under challenging conditions
Disrupt important physiological processes such as DNA replication and cell division
pathogens
Bacterial chromosome
densely packed structure (nucleoid body)
Bacterial cell division takes place via
binary fission
On average, an E. coli genome has ~
4700 genes
Core genome
encodes genes important for metabolic functions of E.
coli species (cell membranes, cell wall . . .)
Variable genome
encodes genes necessary for adaptation and survival
in diverse environments
Pangenome
Genes from core genome plus all the genes from different
strains of a given bacterium
Bacterial genomes contain
DNA transpoons
With IS, enzyme transposase is flanked by
repeat sequences at the ends of the IS element
With IS, Transposase enzyme recognizes the inverted repeats, and
catalyzes the excision and insertion of the transposon sequence
Composite transposable (Tn) elements contain
resistance genes against antibiotics or toxic metals in addition to transposase
insertion of a transposon within genes can cause
mutations or affect gene regulation
Transposons can cause
genomic rearrangements
Transposon distribution within the bacterial genome can
vary
widely between strains of the same species
Plasmids consist of
extrachromosomal DNA
F episome participates in gene transfer via
conjugation
episome compared to plasmid
episome much larger and can integrate into the
chromosome
transposons carry the
the antibiotic resistance genes
Plasmids can be transferred to other
teria, sometimes across species
Plasmids being transferred can lead to
rapid spread of antibiotic resistance
Multiple resistance genes may be located between
two IS elements, allowing them to transpose as a unit
If pathogenic bacteria acquire the plasmids, they can become resi
antibiotics
Auxotrophic mutations
cannot grow in minimal medium