prokaryotes Flashcards
characteristics of prokaryotes
- lack a nucleus surrounded by a nuclear envelope
- have a single circular molecule of DNA, associated with non-histone proteins, in a region called the nucleoid
- lack membrane-bounded organelles
o EXCEPT CYNOBACTERIA AND PURPLE BACTERIA; PHOTOSYN
have ribosomes
unicellular
cell walls/gram +/ -
- archaea do not have cell walls
- responsible for the mechanical strength of the wall—peptidoglycan
- gram +: has peptidoglycan
- gram - : two layers; peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharides
bacillus
rod form of bacteria
binary fission
grows exponentially; divides in 2
transformation
o occurs when a prokaryote takes up free, or naked, DNA from the environment. The free DNA may have been released by an organism that died.
transduction
o occurs when viruses that attack bacteria—viruses known as bacteriophages—bring with them DNA they have acquired from their previous host
conjugation
o DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another. After the donor cell pulls itself close to the recipient using a structure called a pilus, DNA is transferred between cells. In most cases, this DNA is in the form of a plasmid
o Plasmid carry genes that have a selective advantage
endospores
- dormant resting cells, process, called sporulation
o occurs when a population of cells begins to use up its food supply
o resistant to heat, radiation, and chemical disinfectant
photoautotroph
sunlight energy source + CO2 carbon source
chemoautotroph
inorganic energy source + CO2 (inorganic carbon source)
photoheterotroph
sunlight energy source + organic carbon source
chemoheterotroph
organic energy source +organic carbon source
aerobes
require oxygen for respiration
anaerobes
lack an aerobic pathway and there fore cannot use oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor
o generate energy by anaerobic respiration—in which inorganic molecules such as sulfates are the terminal electron acceptor—or by fermentation.
strict anaerobes
killed by oxygen
facultative anaerobes
can grow in the presence or absence of oxygen
psychophiles
cold-loving
thermophiles and extreme thermophiles
heat loving (80, >100)
commercial use
- Bioremediation—use organisms to remove pollutants from water, air, and soil
- Antibiotics
- Fermentation of lactose
- Drugs and vaccines
cyanobacteria
- one of the major evolutionary lines of Bacteria
- chlorophyll a and carotenoids and other pigments called phycobilin
o blue and green algae - parallel membranes like thylakoids and are the ancestor of chloroplast
- Fix nitrogen, converting nitrogen gas into ammonium
o Done by heterocyst
o In anaerobic condition - Resist spores called akinetes, resistant to heat
- Produce cyanotoxins when they bloom
o Neurotoxins, hepatotoxins
o Kills fish b/c O2 depletion
o Bloom b/c of high levels of phosphorus - Found in sponges, amoebas, and vascular plants
lichens
o Are symbiotic associations b/w one or two fungus and green algae or cyanobacteria
Mutualism—b/c fungus gets food b/c cyanobacteria does photosyn and cyano has a protected home b/c of fungus
stromatolites
- produced when colonies of cyanobacteria bind calcium-rich sediments.
o In shallow pools in hot, dry climates
cyanobacteria photosynthesis
CO2 + 2H2O CH2O +H2O + O2
purple and green bacteria photosynthesis and live in…
CO2 + 2H2S CH2O+ H2O + 2S
Live in decaying organic matter