Lecture 2/3 Flashcards
What are the primary features of prokaryotes?
-Smaller in size than eukaryotes
-Have 1 chromosome
-No nucleus
-No membrane-bound organelles
-Reproduce by binary fission
What were the first prokaryotic bacteria seen by the naked eye?
Thiomargarita Namibiensis (0.75mm) and was discovered in 1999
What prokaryotic cell was discovered in June of 2022?
Thiamargarita Magnific
__ is where the DNA of bacteria is packaged without being surrounded by a membrane
The nucleoid
The DNA is stabilized in the nucleoid by:
-The neutralization of the negative charge of the DNA by small polyamines and Mg 2+ ions
-Histone-like proteins
Prokaryotic cells are surrounded by complex envelope layers, which function as:
-Protection (from hostile environments such as osmolarity and harsh chemicals and antibiotics)
-Pathogenicity (contributes to the invasiveness of pathogenic bacteria)
What are the 3 layers of the prokaryotic cell envelope?
- The cell membrane- plasma or cytoplasmic membrane
2.The cell wall - Gram + and Gram - - The capsule - encapsulated and encapsulated bacteria
The cell membrane is based on the ___________ and is composed of ____ and ____
fluid mosaic model, phospholipids bilayer, proteins
____ are lipid molecules that play a role in the fluidity of the membrane
Hopanoids
What are the 5 functions of the cell membrane?
- Permeability and transport
- Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation
- Excretion of hydrolytic exoenzymes and pathogenicity proteins
- Biosynthetic functions
- Chemotactic systems
What are the 4 types of permeability and transport?
GAPS
1. Group translocation = need energy to phosphorylate the molecule during the transport process and then use it in the metabolism. Used to uptake sugars
2. Active transport = need energy and transport proteins (from low to high concentration of solutes)
3. Passive transport = relies on diffusion. Simple diffusion (no energy, no protein) and facilitated diffusion (need channel proteins) ex. transport of O2, CO2, H2O
4. Special transport processes = using specialized molecules such as siderophores to transport ions which is locked up in nature as Fe(OH)3 and insoluble and unavailable for transport
How does electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation in the cell membrane occur?
Analog function to the mitochondria function in eukaryotes.
The cytochrome and other enzymes and components of the respiratory chain, are located in the cell membrane.
How does excretion of hydrolytic exoenzymes and pathogenicity proteins occur in the cell membrane?
6 pathways of protein secretion have been described in bacteria, the type I-VI secretion systems.
Used to secrete hydrolytic enzymes and pathogenicity toxins and other proteins
How do biosynthetic functions work in the cell membrane?
The cell membrane is the site of the enzymes and phospholipid and cell wall biosynthesis.
How does the chemotactic system work in the cell membrane?
The cell membrane has specific receptors that can bind to different kinds of attractants and repellents
Why is the cell wall important?
-Gives the cell shape
- Protects the cell from osmotic lysis
- have components that contribute to the bacteria pathogenicity
-It is the site of action of several antibiotics
What two groups can a bacteria species be divided into based on their cell wall?
Gram-positive and gram-negative
What layer of the cell wall is primarily responsible for the strength of the cell wall
Peptidoglycan layer (murein)
The peptidoglycan layer (murein) is composed of 3 parts:
- A backbone, composed of alternating sugar derivatives NAG and NAM
- A set of identical tetrapeptide side chains attached to NAM. Most have L-alanine, D-glutamate (DAP or L-lysine), and D-alanine
- Peptide cross-links or interbridges
What are the special components of Gram-positive cell walls:
- Teichoic acids - Wall teichoic acids (WTA) and Lipoteichoic acid (LTA)
- Polysaccharides
Teichoic acids:
Teichoic acids are partially responsible for the negative charge of the cell.
The peptidoglycan and teichoic acids together participate in the elasticity, porosity, and tensile strength of the envelope.
Polysaccharides in the cell wall:
in some species, sugars, such as mannose, arabinose, and glucuronic acid exist as subunits of polysaccharide in the cell wall
What are the special components of gram-negative cell walls:
- Outer membrane
- Lipopolysaccharide
- Porin channels
- Lipoprotein
- The periplasmic space
The outer layer of the gram-negative cell wall:
Is a bilayer structure, the outer leaflet contains LPS
It has channel proteins (porins)
Lipopolysaccharide in gram-negative cell wall:
Consists of glycolipids (lipid A) and polysaccharides and it prevents the diffusion of hydrophobic materials (toxic compounds) through the outer membrane.
Polysaccharide part consists of the core + side antigen (O antigen)
O antigen is highly variable (ex in salmonella)
In some bacteria lipid A acts as endotoxin
Porin channels in gram-negative cell wall:
Permit the passive diffusion of low molecular weight hydrophilic compounds, such as sugars, amino acids, and certain ions
Large antibiotic molecules (such as Beta lactams) have very low permeability -> Gram-negative bacteria have resistance to some antibiotics
Lipoprotein in the cell wall:
crosslink the outer membrane and peptidoglycan layers
-to stabilize and anchor the outer membrane layer
-it is the most abundant protein of Gram-negative cells