Chapter 5 Flashcards
What is bacterial growth
Refers to the increase in the number of cells in a population. ex. growth of bacteria in something such as a food or tissue
What is binary fission
Cell division following enlargement of a bacterial cell to twice its starting size. It produces two identical daughter cells, each daughter cell receives a chromosome and sufficient copiues of all other cell constituents to exist as an independent cell
What is generation time
Time required for microbial cells to double in number
What is the septum
The point of division in an elongated cell to two daughter cells. There are changes in the cell wall
What re FTS (Filamentous temperature-sensitive) proteins
The name comes from genetic experiments and they are essential for cell division in prokaryotes. They interact with one another to form the divisome (cell division apparatus)
What are the FTS proteins and what do they do
FtsZ: forms ring around the center of cell, related to tubulin
ZipA: anchor that connects the FtsZ ring to cytoplasmic membrane
FtsA: helps connected FtsZ ring to membrane and also recruits other divisome proteins, related to actin
In bacterial cell division when does the DNA replicate
Before the FtsZ ring forms
What facilitates the location of the FtsZ ring
Min proteins find the middle of the cell
What is the FtsK protein
It mediates the separation of chromosomes to daughter cells, makes sure that each daughter cell gets a chromosome
What recruits the FtsZ ring to the middle of the cell
Min proteins?
What is MreB protein
Major shape determining protein in prokaryotes. FOrms cytoskeleton, spiral-shaped bands around the inside of cell, underneath the cytoplasmic membrane. Not found in coccus bactiera, and localized synthesis of new peptidoglcan to specific locations along the cylinder of a rod-shaped cell during growth
How do cell walls grow in cocci
Cell walls grow in opposite directions outward from the FtsZ ring
How do cell walls grow in rod-shaped cells
Growth occurs at several points along length of the cell
How is new petidoglycan synthesized
Preexisting peptidoglycan needs to be partially severed to allow new synthesis. Beginning at the FtsZ ring, smalle openings in the wall are created by autolysins (enzymes). New cell wall material is added across the opening.
What happens when there is too much autolysin
Too much autolysin activity causes cells to lyse
What are wall bands
The junction between new and old peptidolycan
What is bactoprenol
A carrier molecule that plays major role in export and insertion of peptidoglycan precursors
What is transglycosylase
Enzyme that interacts with bactoprenol and forms sugar backbone. Inserts cell wall precurors into growing points of cell wall and catalyzes a glycosidic bond formation
How does the peptidoglycan process work
First the autolysin activity makes a cleavage in the backbone. Enzyme in the cell will make the precursor MG with pentapeptide and bactoprenol helps flip it up into the cell. Transglycosylase activity stitches that flipped segment into the cell wall
What is transpeptidation
The final step in cell wall synthesis. Forms the peptide cross-links and can be inhibited by the antibiotic penicillin. Defects in cross-links causes growing cells to lyse
Why doesnt penicillin work on non-growing cells
Only growing cells will lyse because penicillin blocks this growth activity, if the cell isnt growing then the peptidoglycan does not become weaken
What does generation time depend on
It depends on growth medium and incubation conditions: temperature, pH, nutrients available. Good conditions allow faster growth
What is Exponential growth
Log phase growth, cell numbers double within a specific time interval over several generations. Increase in cell numbers is a geomtric progression of the number 2
What is the equation for exponential growth
N=(N0)(2^n)
N = final cell number
N0 = initial cell number
n = number of generations during the period of exponential growth
What is the equation for generation time
g=t/n
g = generation time
t = the duration of exponential growth
n = number of generations during the period of exponential growth
What is a batch culture
A closed-system microbial culture of fixed volume. Something in a tube, a closed system where you have a certain amount of nutrients to begin with and a certain number of bacteria in the beginning
What are the 4 phases of a typical growth curve for a closed system
- Lag Phase
- Exponential Phase
- Stationary Phase
- Death Phase
Describe the lag phase
Interval between when a culture is inoculated and when growth begins. Cells are making enzymes and adjusting to the growth medium and conditions such as temperature
Describe the exponential/log phase
Rapid growth, healthiest state
Describe the stationary phase
The net growth rate of population is zero. Either an essential nutrient is being used up or waste products are accumulating and inhibiting growth, or both
Describe the death phase
The lack of nutrients and build up of waste products leads to net death of cells. Cells begin to die.
What is a continuous culture
An open-system microbial culture of fixed volume. New nutrients are entering and waste products are being removed
What is a chemostat
Most common type of continuous culture. Growth rate and population density of culture can be controlled. Constnatly supplies fresh nutrients nad washes away waste products