BACTERIAL STRUCTURE & REPRODUCTION

Bacterial Structure
Bacterial structure consists of a capsule structure. Capsules are bacterial protective
sheaths consisting of polysaccharides. Capsules are outside the cell wall. Only bacteria that are
pathogenic have capsules. The function of this capsule is to protect themselves from dryness and
defend themselves from antitoxin produced by host cells. Then there is the cell wall. Bacterial
cell walls consist of proteins related to polysaccharides (Peptidoglycan). The cell wall is outside
the cell membrane. The presence of cell walls causes the form of bacteria to be fixed. This cell
wall has a function to protect bacterial cells against their environment. Third is the Cell
Membrane The cell membrane consists of fat and protein molecules (Fosfollpid). Cell
membranes have semipermeable properties. Cell membranes contain respiration enzymes. The
function of the cell membrane is to wrap the plasma and regulate the exchange of minerals from
the cell and outside the cell. Fourth, there is a cytoplasm section. Cytoplasm is a fluid inside a
cell. Cytoplasm consists of colloids that contain various organic molecules such as
carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and minerals. Cytoplasm is a place of metabolic reactions. Then
there is the whip feather (Flagel). Flagel is a means of movement in bacteria that helps bacteria
to approach food or stay away if there are poisons or chemicals.
Then in bacteria there is genetic material, bacteria are not spread in the cytoplasm, but
there are certain areas called nucleoids. This ADN has the function of controlling bacterial
protein synthesis and is a nature carrier. Then there is the ribosome. Ribosomes have a function
in protein synthesis. This ribosome is made up of proteins, when viewed from a microscope, the
ribosome looks like a small circular part. The last structure that exists in bacteria is the plasmid.
Besides ADN, bacteria also have plasmids. Plasmids contain certain genes, for example
pathogenic genes and antibiotic resistant genes. Plasmids are also able to reproduce themselves.
Inside one bacterial cell can be formed ± 20 plasmids.

REPRODUCTION OF BACTERIA
1. Asexual Bacterial Reproduction
Reproduction in bacteria can generally be done in 2 ways, namely vegetatively
(asexually) and generatively (sexually). Asexual reproduction of this bacterium is done through 3
namely: bud growth, fragmentation, and binary fission. The growth of shoots in reproductive
bacterial cells begins with the growth and development of a small lump at one end of the cell.
These buds duplicate the genome, grow bigger, become saplings cells, which eventually will
separate themselves from the parent cell to become new bacteria. Furthermore Fragmentation in
unfavorable environmental conditions, bacteria generally will reproduce through the
fragmentation method. Bacterial protoplasm undergoes compartmentalization to build gonidia.
After environmental conditions began to benefit, the gonidia then became a new bacterium with
genomic replication in each fragment. Finally, binary fission is the most common method of
bacterial reproduction. Binary divisions generally only take place if the conditions of the
surrounding environment are in favorable conditions. Bacterial cells will divide into 2 daughter
cells that have similar size and characteristics. In the process of division, there will be a cross
wall separating the chromosomes in 2 daughter cells. Once separated, daughter cells will grow in
20 to 30 minutes and can repeat the binary fission process to produce new bacteria. This is what
causes the process of bacterial reproduction can occur very quickly especially if there are no
inhibitors around the environment
2. Sexually Reproducing Bacteria
Sexual reproduction in bacteria can take place in 3 ways namely transformation,
transduction, and conjugation. 3 ways is the process of combining bacterial DNA from 2
different bacteria, directly or indirectly. Transformation is the transfer of some DNA from one
bacterial cell to another. Bacteria will bind to DNA and then insert the DNA into the cell. This
newly entered DNA will merge with the bacterial DNA and produce a combination of new
genetic material. This is the absorption of DNA segments from the surrounding medium by
living bacteria. This phenomenon of bacterial reproduction was discovered by Griffith in 1928.
The mechanism was successfully revealed by Avery (1944). Acceptance for transformation
arises in a short period when cells have reached the final period of active growth. At this time
they developed a specific receptor side on the wall. Normally E. coli does not take foreign DNA
but can do so when calcium chloride is present. Then Transduction is the transfer of genetic
material from one bacterium to another with the help of bacteriophage (a virus that infects
bacteria). Some bacterial DNA becomes part of the viral DNA when the virus contaminates
bacteria. Then, when a virus that already contains the bacterial DNA infects other bacteria, the
DNA merging of the two bacteria occurs. Virus transduction can carry the same gene (limited
transduction) or different genes (general transduction) at different times. This method of
bacterial reproduction was first discovered by Zinder and his teacher Lederberg (1952) on
Salmonella typhimurium. This process also takes place at Escherichia coli and a number of other
hosts. Viruses can pick up genes from the host during propagation in the host cell. Then there is a
conjugation in which one bacterium will carry its genetic material to other bacteria through direct
contact. This stage can take place with the help of sex pili. Pili works as a tube through which
genetic material is transferred. This pili is owned by donor bacteria (which provide genetic
material). This structure (pili) was created during the conjugation process. How to reproduce
conjugated bacteria was first discovered in Escherichia coli by Lederberg and Tatum (1946).
They found that 2 types of auxotroph (nutrient mutants) grew together on a minimal medium
resulting in occasional prototypes (wild type). Anderson (1957) observed the conjugation
between the two bacteria under an electron microscope. Conjugation is then reported in a number
of other bacteria. Bacteria that show conjugation are dimorphic, that is, they have 2 types of
cells, male (F +) or donor and female (F-) or recipient. Male or donor cells have 1-4 pili surface
sex and fertility factors (transfer factors, sex factors) in their plasmids. Fertility factors contain
genes to produce sex pili and other characters needed for gene transfer. Both pili and fertility
factors are not present in the recipient cell. As these two cell types draw nearer, the male pile of
cells forms a protoplasmic bridge or a conjugated tube with the female cell. It takes 6-8 minutes.

STRUKTUR & REPRODUKSI BAKTERI

Struktur Bakteri
Struktur bakteri terdiri dari struktur kapsul. Kapsul merupakan selubung pelindung
bakteri yang terdiri atas polisakarida. Kapsul berada di luar dinding sel. Hanya bakteri bersifat
patogen yang mempunyai kapsul. Fungsi kapsul ini ialah untuk melindungi diri dari kekeringan
dan mempertahankan diri dari antitoksin yang dihasilkan oleh sel inang. Kemudian terdapat
dinding sel. Dinding sel ini memiliki fungsi untuk melindungi sel bakteri terhadap
lingkungannya. Ketiga yaitu Membran Sel Membran sel terdiri dari molekul lemak dan protein
(Fosfollpid). Membran sel memiliki sifat semipermeabel. Fungsi dari membran sel ialah untuk
membungkus plasma dan mengatur pertukaran mineral dari sel dan ke luar sel. Keempat terdapat
bagian Sitoplasm. Sitoplasma merupakan tempat terjadinya reaksi-reaksi metabolisme. Lalu
terdapat bulu cambuk (Flagel). Flagel merupakan alat gerak pada bakteri sehingga membantu
bakteri untuk mendekati makanan atau menjauh apabila terdapat racun atau bahan kimia.
Kemudian pada bakteri terdapat materi genetik, bakteri tidak tersebar dalam sitoplasma, namun
terdapat pada daerah tertentu yang disebut nukleoid. Ribosom ini terdiri dari protein, apabila
dilihat dari mikroskop, ribosom nampak seperti bagian kecil yang melingkar. Struktur terakhir
yang ada pada bakteri yaitu plasmid. Selain ADN, bakteri juga mempunyai plasmid.
REPRODUKSI BAKTERI
1.Reproduksi bakteri secara aseksual

Reproduksi pada bakteri umumnya bisa dilakukan dengan 2 cara, yaitu secara vegetatif
(aseksual) dan secara generatif (seksual). Reproduksi aseksual bakteri ini dilakukan melalui 3
yaitu:  pertumbuhan tunas, fragmentasi, dan pembelahan biner. Pertumbuhan Tunas yaitu pada
sel bakteri reproduksi dimulai dengan tumbuh dan berkembangnya sebuah benjolan kecil pada
salah satu ujung sel. Selanjutnya Fragmentasi dalam keadaan lingkungan yang tidak
menguntungkan, bakteri umumnya akan melakukan reproduksi melalui metode fragmentasi.
Terakhir, pembelahan biner ialah cara yang paling umum dijumpai dalam proses reproduksi
bakteri. Pembelahan biner umumya hanya berlangsung jika kondisi lingkungan sekitar dalam
kondisi menguntungkan.

2.Reproduksi bakteri secara seksual

Reproduksi seksual pada bakteri dapat berlangsung dengan 3 cara yaitu transformasi,
transduksi, dan konjugasi. 3 cara ini merupakan proses penggabungan DNA bakteri dari 2
bakteri yang berbeda, langsung maupun tidak langsung. Transformasi merupakan perpindahan
sebagian DNA satu sel bakteri ke bakteri lain. Kemudian Transduksi ialah perpindahan materi
genetik dari satu bakteri ke bakteri lain dengan bantuan bakteriofage (virus yang menginfeksi
bakteri). Sebagian DNA bakteri menjadi bagian dari DNA virus saat virus mengkontaminasi
bakteri. Lalu, ketika virus yang sudah mengandung DNA bakteri ini menginfeksi bakteri lain,
maka terjadi penggabungan DNA kedua bakteri tersebut. Transduksi virus dapat membawa gen
yang sama (transduksi terbatas) atau gen yang berbeda (transduksi umum) pada waktu yang
berbeda. Kemudian terdapat Konjugasi yang terdapat satu bakteri akan membawa materi
genetiknya ke bakteri lain melalui kontak langsung. Tahapan ini bisa berlangsung dengan
bantuan pili seks. Pili bekerja sebagai tabung yang menjadi jalan berpindahnya materi genetik.

Question:
 1. What is the cytoplasmic portion of bacteria?
2. What is the function of genetic material, ribosomes, and plasmids in bacteria?
3. How the asexual reproduction process in bacteria?
4. How the sexual reproduction process in bacteria?
Answer:
1. Cytoplasm is a fluid inside a cell. Cytoplasm consists of colloids that contain various
organic molecules such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and minerals. Cytoplasm is a
place of metabolic reactions.
2. Then in bacteria there is genetic material, bacteria are not spread in the cytoplasm, but
there are certain areas called nucleoids. This ADN has the function of controlling
bacterial protein synthesis and is a nature carrier. Then there is the ribosome. Ribosomes
have a function in protein synthesis. The last structure that exists in bacteria is the
plasmid. Plasmids contain certain genes, for example pathogenic genes and antibiotic
resistant genes
3. Asexual reproduction of this bacterium is done through 3 namely: bud growth,
fragmentation, and binary fission. The growth of shoots in reproductive bacterial cells
begins with the growth and development of a small lump at one end of the cell. These
buds duplicate the genome, grow bigger, become saplings cells, which eventually will
separate themselves from the parent cell to become new bacteria. Furthermore
Fragmentation in unfavorable environmental conditions, bacteria generally will
reproduce through the fragmentation method. Finally, binary fission is the most common
method of bacterial reproduction. Binary divisions generally only take place if the
conditions of the surrounding environment are in favorable conditions.
4. Sexual reproduction in bacteria can take place in 3 ways namely transformation,
transduction, and conjugation. 3 ways is the process of combining bacterial DNA from 2
different bacteria, directly or indirectly. Transformation is the transfer of some DNA
from one bacterial cell to another. Bacteria will bind to DNA and then insert the DNA
into the cell. Then Transduction is the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to
another with the help of bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria). Some bacterial DNA
becomes part of the viral DNA when the virus contaminates bacteria. Then, when a virus
that already contains the bacterial DNA infects other bacteria, the DNA merging of the
two bacteria occurs. Virus transduction can carry the same gene (limited transduction) or
different genes (general transduction) at different timesThen there is a conjugation in
which one bacterium will carry its genetic material to other bacteria through direct
contact. Conjugation is then reported in a number of other bacteria.