Prokaryotic Cell Structure Flashcards
Prokaryote
Cells with no true nucleus and no internal membrane. Also no cytoskeleton. There are exceptions to each of these.
Eukaryote
Cells that contain a true nucleus as well as significant amounts of internal membrane. Has a cytoskeleton.
Spherical Bacterial Cells
Cocci
Rod-Shaped Bacterial Cells
Bacilli
Spiral-Shaped Bacterial Cells
Spirilla
Comma-Shaped Bacterial Cells
Vibrios
Bacterial Cells with No Defined Shape
Pleomorphic
S-Layer
“Surface Layer” Outermost layer. Varying thickness. Made of protein. Function not well understood. May protect against osmotic problems and/or ions
Gram Positive Cell Wall
Stains blue/purple. Made of peptidoglycan and teichoic acids.
Peptidoglycan
Made of polysaccharides (sugars) and amino acids. 2 6-C sugars: NAM and NAG. Alternate. There are 4 amino acids from every NAM. (L-D-L-D). One of the few places in nature where D amino acids exist. A.A. in 4 position of one chain binds to A.A. in 3 position of another chain. Uses interbridge to bind (usually Gly5) (5 glycines in a chain).
NAM
N-Acetyl Muramic Acid
NAG
N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Teichoic Acid
Polymers of either glycerol (3C) or ribitol (5C). Pokes through peptidoglycan matrix to increase rigidity.
Lipoteichoic Acid
Teichoic acid that pokes through bottom of peptidoglycan matrix and binds to cell membrane.
Gram Negative Cell Wall
Thin layer of peptidoglycan. No teichoic acid. Does not use interbridges, uses direct bonds instead. Strands of polysaccharides must be closer together. Has outer membrane bound to peptidoglycan with lipoprotein (LP). Outermembrane has LPS.
Lipopolysaccharide
LPS. Endotoxin (toxic structural component of cell) released when cell is destroyed. Newer than Gram + in evolutionary terms.
What phylum has Gram - cell walls?
Proteobacteria
Purpose of a Cell Wall
- Protection (to some degree - very porous)
- Provides structure/maintains shape
- Protects against osmotic shock