On the basis of organisation of genetic material, the cells are of two types : prokaryotic cells and

eukaryotic cells.

ProkaryoticCell and its Organisation

The prokaryotic cells are represented by bacteria, cyanobacteria or Blue Green Algae (BGA),
mycoplasma or PPLO (pleuron-pneumonia like organism), spirochaete and rickettsiae.
The prokaryotic cells are generally far smaller than the eukaryotic cell.
However, they multiply more rapidly than most of the eukaryotic cells.
Almost alleubacteria (true bacteria) have a prokaryotic cellorganisation. Therefore, prokaryotic
cells have much variation in size and shape.
These are Morphologically most primitive cell.
It is a single membrane bound cell and without membrane bound nucleus.
Bacteria were first discovered by Anton Avon Leeuwenhoek in pond water and tartar of teeth.

Size.

The prokaryotic cells vary in size.

The smallest bacterial cells are about 0.15-0.3 micrometer in diameter (e.g., Dialister
pneumosinetes a common cold causing bacterium) and approach a size very close to that of a
large virus.
However, most eubacterial cells are 1.1 to 1.5 micrometer wide and 2.0 to 2.6 micrometer long.
,
Some bacteria (e.g Spirochaetes) and blue green algae (e.g., Oscillatoria) may have length
upto 500 micrometer.
The largest bacterium, Epulopscium fishelsoni, was discovered in the intestine of the brown
surgeon fish, is about 600 micrometer long and 80 micrometer wide where as Spirillum volutans
is 500 micrometer
Thus,some prokaryotic cells are much larger than the normaleukaryotic cell.
Viruses have the size of 0.02-0.2 micrometere (Fig.).

Shape.

There are four forms of bacteria (Fig.). These are

(i) Coccus or Spherical. They are spherical or ovoid in shape and may occur singly (Monococcus).
in pairs (Diplococcus), in tetrads (Tetracoccus), in chains (Streptococcus), irregular grape like
clusters (Staphylococcus) or clustered like a cube (Sarcina).
C (iü) Bacillus. They are rod shaped. The shape of rod may be flat or round or cigar shaped. They

may occur singly (Monobacillus) or in group of two after division (Diplobacillus).

(ii) Vibrios. They are shaped like a comma ora small curved rod.
(iv) Spirilla. They are shaped like a long twisted spiral or may be highly coiled like a cork screw
(Spirochaetes).

Components of Bacterial Cell (Fig.)

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A bacterial cellconsists of a cellenvelope, cytoplasm, nucleoid, plasmids, flagellaand pili, fimbriae and
spinae.

Cell Envelope its modification

It isthe outer covering of protoplasm of bacterial cell.

It accounts for 10-15% of the cell volume.
Cell envelope consists of three basic layers glycocalyx, cell walland plasma membrane.
They are stacked upon one another and often bounded tightly.
(1)Glycocalyx.

It isthe outermost layer made up of macromolecules, I,e polysaccharide and proteins.

Glycocalyx differs in thickness and chemical composition in different bacteria.
Some bacteria have a loose sheath of viscous gelatinous nature called slime layer.
It protects the cells from loss of water and nutrients.
It may have a thick and tough covering components of this is compactly arranged then it is
called capsule.
Capsulated bacteria generally non flagellated.
The slime layer and capsule are made up of polysaccharides and may also contain proteins.
The capsule makes the cells gummy and sticky.
Though this layer is not absolutely essential for bacterial survival but perform a number of
secondary functions like
Functions:
A (a)serves as a protective layer against attack by phagocytes and viruses (immunogenic).
A (b) protects from toxic chemicals and drugs.
A (c) prevent desiccation.
A (d) helps in attachment to a surface.
A (e) provide virulence.

(ii) Cell Wall.

Position:- It is present below the glycocalyx.

Shape:-It provides definite shape to cell.
It gives strong structural support to the cell.
It keeps the bacterium from bursting or collapsing in a hypotonic solution.

Chemical composition:

The cell wall material in alleubacteria and cyanobacteria is peptidoglycan or murein.

> Peptidoglycan or murein is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms
a
mesh-like peptidoglycan layer outside the plasma membrane of most bacteria,
forming the cell wall.

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 Glucosyltransferase NAG NAG NAG

L-alanine n3
D-glutamate
NAM NAM NAM
L-lysine

D-alanine
Oglycine
NAG

NAM NAM NAM

Transpeptidase

NAG-N-acetyl glucosamine
NAM-N-acetyl muramic acid

It is
composed of repeating framework of long glycan strands (N-acetyl muramic acid (NAM)and
N-acetyl glucosamine(NAG)) which are cross linked by short peptide chains to provide a strong
but flexible support framework.
NAM is a combination of N-acetylglucOsamine and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), This
addition happens exclusively in the cell ytoplasm.

The cross linking of peptidoglycan strands is inhibited by a number of antibiotics (such as

penicillin and cephalosporin).
Therefore, bacterial cells undergo lysis in the presence of these antibiotics.
Similarly, lysozyme, a-naturally occurring antibacterial enzyme in saliva and tears, hydrolyses the
peptidoglycan and thus provides protection against certain bacteria.

Gram negative and positive bacteria

In Gram-negative bacteria,

The cell envelope shows two layers, the outer membrane, a thin layer of peptidoglycan and
plasma membrane.
The outer face of the outer membrane contains lipopolysaccharides, a part of which is
integrated into the membrane lipids.
The inner face has a number of proteins which are anchored into peptidoglycan.

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