exam 3 Flashcards
Origin of earth
origin of the universe:
-big band was 10-18 billion years ago
-carbon and higher elements formed first stars- main hydrogen and helium
-earth is about 4.5 billion years old
crust of eath became stable 3/9 billion years ago
What constitutes life?
first evidence of life is about 3.8 bya
ability to ingest nutrients, secrete waste products, grow and reproduce
-obtain ebergy to drive chemical reactions
-generally capable of reproduction
-generally can evolve
debates over the origin of life
1) temp: mesophilic or thermophilic
many uncatalyzed but biologically relevant reactions could have taken place much faster at higher temps
enzymes when they arose, provided optimal rate acceleration at lower temps
2) carbon metabolism: autotrophs vs heterotroph- availability of substrates to support heterotrophy is unlikely
3) complex cells early or late: trees and energetics suggest start with cells of low comoplexity
- early evolution was anoxic- oxygen is microbial invention
monera
category for organisms poorly understood
kingdoms in the traditional 5 kingdoms: monera, animalia, protista, plantae, fungi
-very subjective, mostly based on morphological complexity
prokaryotes
pro= before karyon= nucleus
possess basic life properties
- metabolic processes
- reproduction- using DNA, RNA, ribosomes
characterized by what they lack
- no nucleus
- no membrane bound organelles
eukaryotes vs prokaryotes
Eukaryotes:
- organelles present- nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts
- diploid
- many are multicellular
- mitosis, centrioles present in many, mitotic spindle or microtubules
prokaryotes:
- no membrane-bound organelles
- haploid
- never truely multicellular
- cell division, no mitosis, binary fission or budding
how to classify prokaryotes?
bacteria lack both morphological complexity and a fossil record
- SSU rRNA gene used for defining phylogeny
- rRNA is ubiquitous
- sufficiently conserved to relate all life
- multiple variable regions, good for discrimination
archaea
comparisons of rRNA sequences allowed scientists to establish relationships among organisms
revealed a 3 domain tree
reason for not using the word prokaryote
implies incorrect origin of eukaryotes
prokaryotes represent a paraphyletic group- where not all orgs come from last common ancestor
endosymbiotic theory and evidence
postulates that mitochondria, chloroplasts and maybe some other subcellular organelles, originated when a bacterium established stable residence within the cytoplsm of a primitive bacterium established stables residence in the cytoplasm of a eukaryote and provided the cell with energy in exchange for a protective environment/nutrients
evidence: mitochondria and chloroplasts are about the same size of an average bacterium
-both organelles replicate by fission like bacteris. the duplication of both organelles takes place independently of nuclear division
both organelles have their own ribosomes and manufacture their own proteins. these ribosomes resemble bacterial ribosomes
cyanobacteria have a similar structure to chloroplasts and contain the same chlorophyls
mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own genome- these are circular molecules resembling bacterial chromosomes
-sequence the mitochondrion and chloroplasts genomes demonstrate that chloroplasts DNA is close to cyanobacteria and mitochondrial DNA close to typhus bacteria DNA- we see them on tree of life where we would expect if they had evolved from proteobacteria and cyanobacteria
archaea- size and shape
0.1 um to 15 um in diameter
but usually very small
can form longer aggregates or filaments
they have a variety of cell walls but they don’t contian peptidoglycan, protein S-layers and preudomurein
various shapes- spherical, rod, spiral or lobed
archaea DNA
single circular chromosome can have plasmids currently>1000 genomes finished or in production genome size range 0.5-5.5 reproduce asexually not known to produce spores most as yet uncultured
archaea cell membrane
L-glycerol instead of D-glycerol
side chains bound by ether
side chains in the phospholipid bilayer is branched isoprene
archaea have cytoplsmic membrane, no outer membrane
archaea similarities with bacteria
like bacteria:
- no nucleus
- no membrane bound organelles
- DNA in a signle loop
- genes grouped in operons
- genes in metabolism are similar
- size
archaea similarities with Eurakyotes
- similar RNA polymerase
- methionine initiates protein synthesis (bacteria use formyl-methionine)
- histones (spools around which DNA winds)
Archaea difference from Bacteria
bacteria have:
- simple RNA polymerase
- formylmethionine initiates protein synthesis
- control transcription initiation using sigma factors
why study archaea?
- fuel production, food, antibiotics
- to understand their niche since it is so ddiverse
- archaea live in extreme environments so understanding their enzymes have many uses
they provide unique opportunities to gain insight into a number of fundamental problems in biology:
- such as extremophiles= biotech applications
- are imp components of biogeochemical cycles on earth and dominate special ecosystems of interes= methanogens
- offer insight into early evolution of life including origin of eukaryotes
Methanogens
- methanogenesis only occurs in archaea
- polyphyletic- derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor
- require complete anaerobiosis to frow
- major substrates and reactions include: H2 and CO2, acetic acid, methanol, methylamine
methanogens grow in: anaerobic soil of wetlands, rice paddies, landfills, rumen and GI tract of mammals, marine benthic sediments
hydrogen consuming methanogens: ecologically important in anaerobic environments: remove excess hydrogen produced by other pseices during fermentation (interspecies H2 transfer)
Halophiles
extremophiles that can occur in environments with very high salt concentrations
- salt loving
-polyphyletic, they also occur outside of Archaea
some halophiles are capable of light-driven synthesis of ATP
-bacteriorhodopsin act as H+ pump- capture light energy and use it to move H+ acriss membrane= gradient made to make ATP- not photosynthesis since no synthesis
-survive by increasing osmolarity of the cell
>compatible solutes (organic compounds in cytoplasm)
>selective influence of K (salt-in strategy)
Halophile salt strategy
“salt-in” strategy
- to use this strategy all enzymes and structural cell components must be adapted to high salt concentrations to ensure proper cell function
- based on optimal saline environments, halophilic organisms can be grouped into 3 categories: extreme halophiles, moderate halophiles, slightly halophilic or halotolerant organisms
- some extreme halophiles can live in solutions of 25% salt; seawater= 2% salt
extremophiles
can occur in environments with high temps between 45-122 degrees C
enzymes function at high temps
membranes stable at high temps
include both obligate and facultative
adaptations to life at high temps
stability of monomers
- protective effect of high concentrations of cytoplasmic solutes
- use more heat stable molecules ex: use of non-heme iron proteins ex: ferredoxins
- no significant changes in amino acid composition
protein folding and thermostability
- highly hydrophobic cores
- increased ionic interactions on protein surface
chaperonins -class of proteins that refold partially denatured proteins
DNA stability
- high intracellular levels of polyamines that stabilize DNA and RNA ex: putrescine, spermidine
- DNA binding proteins (archaeal histones) compact
4 distinct phyla/groups of Archaes
based on small subunit ribosomal RNA sequences (less than 80% identity among them) that are well accepted among scientists Euryarchaeota Crenarchaeota Karoarchaeota Nanoarcheota
Euryarchaeota
largest phylum of archaea
euryarchaeota means “broad-ranging archaea: dominated by methanogens
-have diverse habitats and physiologies, including methanogens and halophiles
-some extremely thermophilic aerobes and anaerobes
Crenarchaeota
-another phyum of archaea
means “scalloped archaea”
-often irregular in shape
all synthesize distinctive tetraether lipid called crenarchaeol
the number of cyclopentane rings increase with growth in temperature (more densely packed with more thermostable membranes)
occur in diverse habitats
abundant in marine systems
most lack histones (which are good for high temps)
include thermophiles- can grow up to 113 degrees C
stain gram negative
include sulfolobales: oxidize sulfur to sulfuric acid, found in hot springs
ex: sulfolobus solfataricus- thermophile that grows at 80 degrees C and pH of 3
Karoarchaeota
phylum of archaea
only known from sequence
and only known for extremely hot habitats
Nanoarchaeota
phylum of archaea
small
parasite
early-branching member of Archaea, lacks genes for all core molecular processes and thus depends on its host (Crenoarchaeote) for most of its cellular needs
cutoffs: phylum/division order family genus species
these are cutoff established to group organisms togehter
Division/phylum: 80% small ribosomal subunit identity shared (still lots of diversity in phylum)
order: 90%
family: 92%
genus: 95%
species: 98%
Phylum cyanobacteria and photosynthesis/morphology/physiology
kyano= blue
commonly called blue-green algae
obtain energy throught photosynthesis, use oxygenic phototosynthesis- use water as electron donor for CO2 reduction
use Chlorophyll a
use phyycobillins: accessory photopigments,
are important in marine systems
-they are imp primary producers- 25% of global C fixation
-imp in N cycle- fix N2
morphologically diverse, but physiologically similar, and grow fast
have 6 orders
phycobillins
accessory photopigements in cyanobacteria
Phylum cyanobacteria, genus prochlorococcus
Phylum cyanobacteria, genus prochlorococcus
are extremely abundant and imp photosynthetic species in oceans
very small with an unusual pigmentation- chlorophyll B primariy absorbs blue lights
prochlorococcus occupies 2 distinct niches, leading to the nomeclature of the low light (LL) and high light (HL) gorups which vary in pigment
High light adapted strains inhabit depthes between 25-100m while low light adapted strains inhabit between 80-200m
these 2 strains differ in the amount of chorophyll a and B
LL strains have more chlorophyll b to a ratio which aids in the ability to abs blue light- blue light is next to UV light, so is higher in energy and penetrates deeper in the water column >200m
-their 16S are identical but photosynthesis pigments are different
cyanobacteria and earth’s atmosphere
are likely responsible for Earth’s atmosphere becoming rich in O2
-stromatolite- rock like deposition of carbonates and trapped sediments; formed by cyanobacteria and diatoms
-age is about 3/5 bya
growth-mineral depositions-growth-mineral deposition layers
cyanobacteria and N
filamentous often
some have heterocysts that permanently fix N, and have special mechanism to protect nitrogenase (Oxygen sensitive) from O2
some have resistant cells- akinetes: resistant to both cold and dessication
cyanobacteria: inhabituation, mutualisms, compounds produced
also occur on land- are very widely distributed
are in some lichens- mutualism between a fungus and photobiont
symbionts with some plants- “grene fertilizer” in rice fields in Asia
endosymbionts- chloroplasts in eukaryotes
many produce neurotoxins, hepatoxins
skin irritants, other toxins
surface water supplies- hepatotoxins (more widespread)/neurotoxins
biofuels and cyanobacteria- what makes organisms in this phylum appealing?
sun for energy/CO2 for C no sugars needed can grow in H2O- no competition for cropland can make NH3 and AAs from N2 gas grow fast
phylum firmicutes
formus= strong cutis= skin
most have gram positive cell wall
but few also have porous-outer-membrane so stain gram-neg
commonly called low G+C gram positive bacteria
many form endospores= resistant to harsh conditions
>275 genera
-divided into 4 classes: Bacilli, Clostridia, Erysipelotrichia, mollicutes
-and has 11 further orders
-lateral gene transfer may be an issue, but there is support for these orders
4 firmicute classes
Bacilli
Clostridia
Erysipelotrichia
Mollicutes
Firmicute metabolism
metabolism:
heterotrophic lifestyle
usually anaerobic except Bacilli which are generally obligate aerobes
anaerobic metabolilsm is usually substrate level phosphorylation rather than anaerobic respiration
often lack complete electron transport chain
have a wide range of energy and carbon sources; wide range of fermentation products
firmicute morphology and habitat
morphology:
rods or cocci
can form chains (Bacillus and streptococcus)
endospores are a common unique feature of this group
Habitat:
soil, skin, mucous membranes, gut
Clostridia
class of firmicutes: clostridia order: clostridiales
anaerobic
produce endospores
important genus:
- clostridium botulimus- causes Botulism
- Clostridium tetani- causes tetanus
- clostridium thermocellum- used in bioenery: cellulytic and ethanologenic- can break down cellulose and make ethanol
Mollicutes
class of firmicutes= mollicutes order: mycoplasmatales
important genus is mycoplasma
lack cell walls= stain Gram neg
typically live inside cell of host= parasitic
the phylogeny of mollicutes is interesting: because of the degenration of the genome= reduction in genome size and the overall rate of evolution is uncharacteristically high
the evolution of mollilcutes into strict parasites has made much of their metabolic machinery obsolete (no longer used)
ex: mycoplasma genitalium has only 470 open reading frames
Bacilli
class of firmicutes order: bacillales
are rod shaped
important genera: Bacillus, listeria, staphylococcus
imp:
- Bacillus anthracis- causes anthrax
- bacillus subtilis- used in science as model species
- Bacillus thuringiensis- is an inset pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus
is in the order Bacillales under class (of firmicutes Bacilli)
causes 100s of deaths in US
MRSA- methicillin resistant
-resistant to beta lactam antibiotics
-penicillind and cephalosporins
-resistance cand evelop by horizontal gene transfer of resistance determinants encoded by mobile genetic elements or by mutations in chromosomal genes
-horizontally acquired resistance can occir by:
1. enzymatic drug modification or inactivation
2. enzymatic modification of drug binding site
3. drug efflux
4. bypass mechanisms involving acquisitions of a novel drug-resistant target
- aquisition of resistance by mutation can result from:
1. alteration of drug target that prevents inhibitor from binding
2. derepression of chromosomally encoded multidrug resistance efflux pumps
3. multiple stepwise mutations that alter the structure and composition of the cell wall and/or membrane to reduce drug access to its target
Antibiotic resistance by horizontal gene transfer
- horizontally acquired resistance can occir by:
1. enzymatic drug modification or inactivation
2. enzymatic modification of drug binding site
3. drug efflux
4. bypass mechanisms involving acquisitions of a novel drug-resistant target
antibiotic resistance by mutation
- aquisition of resistance by mutation can result from:
1. alteration of drug target that prevents inhibitor from binding
2. derepression of chromosomally encoded multidrug resistance efflux pumps
3. multiple stepwise mutations that alter the structure and composition of the cell wall and/or membrane to reduce drug access to its target
Lactobacillales
order lactobacillales from class Bacilli (of firmicutes)
lactic acid bactera: convert lactose and other sugars into lactic acid
important genera: lactobacillus enterococcus streptococcus: spherical S. pneumoniae: bacterial pneumonia and meningitis Lactobacillus spp. : foods
S. pneumoniae
genera of lactobacillales (order) from Bacilli (class) from Firmicutes (phylum)
cause bacterial pneumonia and meningitis
phylum bacteroidetes
large phylum with >140 genera
sacrharolytic- degrade complex polysaccharidea
are rod shaped cells
occur in soild, sea water, symbionts of animals and sediments
have 3 classes: Bacteroidia, Flavobacteria and Sphingobacteria
Bacteroidales
Bacteroidales are an order of Bacteroidetes (phylum):
most abundant gram-neg organism in the human gut
important genera is Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Porphyromonas
-porphyromonas gingivitis- causes inflammation of the gingiva
bacteroides and prevotella- commonly found in GI tract of animals. Privotella sp contain bacterial genes for cellulose and xylan hydrolysis (higher fiber diet=privotella)
Flavobacteriales
order= flavobacteriales
from phylum= Bacteroidetes
are areobic rods
causes disease in fish
Sphingobacteriales
order= sphingobacteriales
phylum= Bacteroidetes
little known
they synthesize spingolipids and incorporate then into their membranes otherwise found mostly in eukaryotes membranes; nervous system and incorporate them into their membranes= important for our immune systems
Actinobacteria
phylum
also called actinomyces
gram positive bacteria
-have high G+C content
form filaments
pharmaceutically very important- antibiotics and anticancer drugs: among bioactive compounds gotten from microbes, 45% are produced by actinomycetes, 38% from fungi and 17% from other bacteria
actinobacteira are very rich in secondary metabolites (reactions performed by organisms to kill and compete with other orgs like anitbiotics, or others to obtain nutrients)
very diverse
abundant in soils- cause soil to smell “earthy”- compound that does this is called Geosmin
help in decomposition of organic matter
are symbionts of insects
ecologically very imp but for the most part poorly studied other than from pharmaceutical perspective
ex: class- streptomyces- important antibiotics
mycobacterium tuberculosis- causes tuberculosis
genus bifidobacterium- prevalent in the guts of young kids (and adults)
important for probiotics- used in food industry
genus frankia- plant mutualists- fix N2
frankia
genus frankia of phylum Actinobacteria- plant mutualists- fix N2
bifidobacterium
genus bifidobacterium of phylum actonobacteria phylum- prevalent in the guts of young kids (and adults)
important for probiotics- used in food industry
streptomyces
class= streptomyces phylum= actinobacteria
imp for antibiotics
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is an actinobacteria
causes tuberculosis
Spirochaetes
phyum of bacteria
are gram-negative
widespread in aquatic environments and animals
some cause diseases
highly coiled cells- defining feature
5-200um long, 0.1-0.5um wide (so pretty big- typically microbes arre about 1um)
spirochetes flagells
have internal polar flagella
-it is between the cell membran e and outer membrane- called an endoflagella
-number of flagella varies among species
runs lengthwise
-used for motility
-allows for enhanced motility in viscious substances
important spirochete generas
Treponema
Borrelia
Leptospira
Treponema
genus of spirochetes phylum
causes syphilis
infects only humans; enters thorough skin or mucous membrane where primary manifestations are seen
-is sexually transmitted
-is found in the microaerophile- thrives in low O2 levels
-first antibiotic used for this
Treponema are also found in human oral cavity- between teeth and gums, some can ferment cysteine to produced H2S
also associate with termites (in hindgut) and ruminants