External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells

• Glycocalyces
– Gelatinous, sticky
substance surrounding
the outside of the cell
– Composed of
polysaccharides,
polypeptides, or both
 External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells

• Types of Glycocalyces

– Capsule
• Composed of organized
repeating units of organic
chemicals
• Firmly attached to cell surface
• Protects cells from drying out
• May prevent bacteria from
being recognized and
destroyed by host
 Capsule

Polysaccharides or
polypeptides in composition.

Surround the cell wall in

some bacteria.

Function:

•Protection from
phagocytosis
•Osmotic barrier
•Reservoir for nutrients
•Virulence factor
Capsule Stain
Slime Layer

Consist of polysaccharide
fibers that extend form the
bacterial surface

Functions:

•Protection
•Attachment
•Associated with biofilms
 External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells
• Types of Glycocalyces

– Slime layer
• Loosely attached to cell
surface
• Water soluble
• Protects cells from drying out
• Sticky layer that allows
prokaryotes to attach to
surfaces
Bacterial
Appendages

Flagella

Axial Filaments

Pili (Fimbriae)
Bacterial Appendages
Flagella

Structures of locomotion

Originate in the plasma

membrane

In bacteria rotate like a

propellar

Many different
arrangements
 External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells

• Flagella
– Are responsible for
movement
– Have long structures that
extend beyond cell surface
– Are not present on all
prokaryotes
External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells

 Flagella

 Structure
 Composed of filament, hook,
and basal body
 Flagellin protein (filament)
deposited in a helix at the
lengthening tip
 Base of filament inserts into
hook
 Basal body anchors filament
and hook to cell wall by a rod
and a series of either two or
four rings of integral proteins
 Filament capable of rotating
360º
Bacterial Appendages
Arrangements of Flagella

A. Monotrichous

B. Lophotrichous

C. Amphitrichous

D. Peritrichous
Bacterial Appendages

Axial filament (endoflagella)

Originates in the cell membrane and

transverses the length of the cell in the
periplasmic space.

As the endoflagella rotate to move the cell

the characteristic shape is formed .

Endoflagella are associated with

spirochetes.
External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells
Endoflagellum is also know as an
axial filament.

Attached to the plasma embrane

and transverses the entire cell.

Responsible for the spirochete

morphology.
 External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells

• Flagella

– Function
• Rotation propels bacterium
through environment
• Rotation reversible, can be
clockwise or counterclockwise
• Bacteria move in response to
stimuli (taxis)
– Runs
– Tumbles
 Bacterial Appendages

• Fimbriae and Pili

– Rod-like proteinaceous
extensions
Bacterial
Appendages Fimbriae

Hollow tubes that

protrude from some
bacteria

Compose of protein
External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells

• Fimbriae
• Sticky, bristlelike
projections
• Used by bacteria to
adhere to one another, to
hosts, and to substances
in environment
• Shorter than flagella
• May be hundreds per cell
• Serve an important
function in biofilms
• Virulence factor
 External Structures of Prokaryotic Cells

• Pili
– Tubules composed of pilin
– Also known as conjugation pili
– Longer than fimbriae but shorter
than flagella
– Bacteria typically only have one or
two per cell
– Mediate the transfer of DNA from
one cell to another (conjugation)
 Bacterial Conjugation
Transfer of plasmid DNA
from a donor to a
recipient.

Process strengthens the

bacterial cell and alows
for survival in a
competitive environment.
Bacterial Inclusion Bodies

1. poly-Beta-hydroxybutyric acid - stores lipids for use in plasma

membrane

2. glycogen - stores starch like polymer of sugar for energy production

3. Polyphosphate granules (metachromatic granules) - storage for

phosphates for plasma membrane and the formation of ATP from
ADP.

4. Sulfur granules - stores sulfur which is necessary for the metabolic

reactions in biosynthesis.
5. Mesosome

Mesosomes - invagination of the

plasma membrane that increases
the surfaces area of the plasma
membrane during binary fission.

The mesosome also serves as a

site for the attachment and
distribution of genetic material
during binary fission.
Mesosome

In prokaryotic cell division, called

binary fission.

A diagram of the attachment of

bacterial chromosomes, indicating
the possible role of the mesosome
(an inward fold of the cell
membrane) in ensuring the
distribution of the "chromosomes"
in a dividing cell.

Upon attachment to the plasma

membrane, the DNA replicates and
reattaches at separate points.
Continued growth of the cell
gradually separates the
chromosomes and allocates
chromosome copies to the two
daughter cells.
Inclusion Bodies

6. gas vacuoles - storage of metabolic gases such as methane or hydrogen

gas. The gas vacuoles help in the buoyancy of the cell and aids in it
motility.

7. ribosomes - responsible for the synthesis of proteins.

8. nucleoid material - the genetic material of bacteria, which usually is balled

up in the cell. During binary fission the nucleoid material unravels within the
cell in order to be copied and distributed to the daughter cells.

9. Plasmid - small fragments of self-replicating extrachromosomal DNA that

codes for the resistance to antibiotics or for the productions of a specific
metabolite, i.e. toxins, pigments. These plasmids may be transferred from
one bacterial cell to another by the F-pili.
Inclusion Bodies
9. Plasmid - small fragments of self-replicating extrachromosomal DNA that
codes for the resistance to antibiotics or for the productions of a specific
metabolite, i.e. toxins, pigments. These plasmids may be transferred from
one bacterial cell to another by the F-pili.
Inclusion Bodies

These plasmids may be transferred from one bacterial cell to another by the
F-pili.
Inclusion Bodies
10. Endospores - a survival mechanism of certain genera of bacteria
such as Clostridium and Bacillus.
The endospores are composed of a complex of dipicolinc acid and
calcium and the function of the endospore is to protect the bacterial
chromosome.
The endospores are very resistant to heat, desiccation, freezing,
and other physical properties such as pesticides, antibiotics, dyes,
and acids.
Inclusion Bodies
The endospores may remain dormant for many years until the
environment becomes suitable to sustain the life of the bacteria.

The endospore will then germinate to form an exact copy of the

parent cell that produced it.