ch 7 bacterial and archaeal growth Flashcards
binary fission
type of cell decision where the cell elongates as new cell envelope material is synthesized, nucleoid must replicate and partitioned in half, septum splits cell in half
cell cycle
the complete sequence of events extending from formation of a new cell through the next cell division
3 phases:
- initial growth
- chromosome replication and partitioning
- cytokinesis, during which a septum and daughter cells are formed
origin of replication
site at which replication begins
replisome
DNA synthesizing machinery
steps of septation
process of forming a cross wall btw two daughter cells
1. selection of the site where the septum will form
2. assembly of the Z-ring, which is a polymer of the cytoskeletal protein FtsZ
3. assembly of the machinery for synthesis of peptidoglycan and other cell wall constituents
4. constriction of the cell and septum formation
divisome formation
z-ring associates discontinuously at mid-cell
FtsZ filaments attach to the plasma membrane through anchoring proteins, which also coordinate the enzymes that synthesize and remodel peptidoglycan in the developing septum
cellular growth and determination of cell shape
after the cell is born, it enters growth where a single cell increases in size
cell shape is strict and passed on through generations
some microbes change shape under certain circumstances
cocci cell shape
cellular location of peptidoglycan synthesis determines coccus shape
rod and curved cell shape
rod: elongasome - MreB is scaffolded, creates filaments along cytoplasmic face of plasma membrane; growth occurs in numerous bands around the cell, not at the poles
curved: crescentin - localized to one side of the cell, resulting in asymmetric cell wall and vibroid shape
batch culture
incubated in a closed vessel with a single batch of medium
five phases of growth
- lag phase
- exponential phase
- stationary phase
- death phase
- long-term stationary phase
lag phase
when microorganisms are introduced into fresh culture medium and no immediate increase in cell number occurs
- cells are synthesizing new components
- replenish spent materials
- adapt to new medium or conditions
exponential phase
microorganisms grow and divide at the maximal rate possible given their genetic potential, the nature of the medium, and the environmental conditions
stationary phase
in a closed system, population growth eventually ceases and the growth curve becomes horizontal
- total number of viable cells remain constant
- balance btw cell division and cell death
- bc of nutrient limitation, limited oxygen, toxic waste accumulation, critical population density reached
death phase
number of viable cells declines exponentially, with the cells dying at a constant rate
- nutrient deprivation and the buildup of toxic wastes cause irreparable harm to the cells
long-term stationary phase
bacterial population continually evolves so that actively reproducing cells are those best able to use the nutrients released by their dying brethren and best able to tolerate the accumulated toxins
- process marked by successive waves of genetically distinct variants
- natural selection occurs within a single culture
mechanosensitive channels
mechanisms to protect the cell from changing osmotic concentrations
in a hypotonic solution, the membrane stretches due to an increase in hydrostatic pressure and cellular swelling. MS channels then open and allow solute to leave, protecting the cell from bursting
osmophiles
microbes adapted to extreme hypertonic solutions
- halophiles - require presence of NaCl at a conc above 0.2M
water activity (aw)
measure of the degree of water availability
equal to the ratio of solution’s vapor pressure to that of pure water
- most grow well at 0.98
osmotolerant
microorganisms that can grow over a wide range of water activity but optimally at higher levels
xerotolerant
microbes that withstand high solute concs
- can preserve dessication
cardinal temps
minimum, optimum, and maximum growth temps