CHAPTER III

BACTERIAL STRUCTURE
 Learning objective:

At the end of this chapter the students will be

able to:
Describe general properties of bacterial cell
Recognize basic structure (internal and
external) of bacterial cell
Explain the function of specific bacterial
structure
Basic features of Bacterial Cell
 General property
◦ Typical prokaryotic cell
◦ Contain both DNA and RNA
◦ Most grow in artificial media
◦ Replication is by binary fission
◦ Contain rigid cell wall
Structure of Bacteria

Bacterial structure is considered at three levels.

1. Cell envelope proper:
Capsule, cell wall and cell membrane
2. Cellular element enclosed with in the cell envelope:
Mesosomes, ribosome, nuclear material, polyamines
and cytoplasmic granules.
3. Cellular element external to the cell envelope
(appendages) :
Flagellum, Pilus
1. Cell Envelop proper
a cell envelope consists of a capsule, cell wall and
plasma membrane

 Cellwall:
◦ a non-living secretion of the cell membrane,
composed of cellulose
◦ Multi layered structure and constitutes about 20%
of the bacterial dry weight
◦ Average thickness is 0.15-0.5 m
Chemical Composition of cell wall
 The major component of cell wall is peptidoglycan (PG)
 The rigidity of the cell wall is due to the presence of this
substance
 It consists of a polymer of disaccharides cross-linked by short
chains of amino acids (peptides). This molecule is a type of
peptidoglycan, which is called murein.
peptidoglycan layer (murein) is a complex, interwoven
network that surrounds the entire cells and is composed of
a single covalently linked macromolecules.
Found only in bacterial cell walls
 Chemical Composition ….Cont’d

 This PG is found only in bacteria

 Some times called back bone of bacteria.

PG is made up of two alternate repeating amino sugar and

peptides.
1. The amino sugars are
A. N – acetyl glucose amine (NAG)
B. N – acetyl muramic acid (NAM)
2. Peptides – which consist of 4 amino acids
◦ L -alanin
◦ D-isoglutamic acid
◦ L-lysine
◦ D- alanin
Function of cell wall
  protects the delicate cell from osmotic lysis.

 Provide rigid support for the cells

Types of cell wall
I. Gram positive cell wall of bacteria
 has two layers (Peptidoglycan (PG) cross linked
with teichoic acid)
◦ The PG layers is much thicker than Gram negative
bacteria and i.e. 15 – 50 nm thick
 The PG layer comprises 50 – 90% of
the cell wall and 20 – 40% of the cell
wall weight
Gram positive cell wall …Cont’d
 The large amount of peptideglycan make gram-
positive bacteria susceptible to the enzyme lysozyme
and penicillin.
 Lysozyme hydrolyzes peptidoglycan by specific
cleavage between N-acetyl muramic acid and the N-
acetyl glucosamine of the glycon strand.
 Penicillin specifically inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis
 Teichoic acids and cell well- associated protein are
the major surface antigens of the gram- positive cell
well.
Gram positive cell wall …Cont’d
Teichoic acid
 These polymers of glycerol phosphate or ribitol
phosphate are located in the outer layer of the GP
cell wall.

Function of Teichoic acid

 Used to bind (keep) Mg+2 concentration in the cell
wall
Used to activate autolytic enzyme (enzymes which
are secreted by bacteria usually when it die
To bind bacteriophage in the cell wall.
 II. Gram negative Cell wall of bacteria

 Is some what complex than Gram positive bacterial cell wall

 Has thin peptidoglycan layer (3 – 8nm)

 Has high lipid content (lipopolysaccharied) in the outer

membrane

 Has periplasmic space.

Gram negative cell wall …Cont’d
Outer membrane
 Contains receptors (sites) for bacteriophage
attachment or bacteriocine (bacteriocine – are
antibacterial agents produced by bacteria)
 It participates in cell division
 Used in transport of materials (either out of or
towards the cell)
Lipopoly saccharides
 It is responsible for antigenicty of the outer
membrane
Periplasmic space
 Found between outer membrane and the cell
membrane
 Mostly contain enzymes and endotoxins.
 (a) (b)

Fig. Gram-Positive (a) and Gram negative (b) cell wall of bacteria
Cell Wall-less Forms of bacteria

Bacteria with defective cell walls include:

 Protoplasts: bacteria with out cell wall.
 Spheroplast: bacterium with a damaged cell wall.
 L-forms: mutant bacteria without cell well
 Mycoplasma: highly pleomorphic bacteria with out
cell wall resembling L- forms.

Reading Assignment 1
Capsule and slim layer
 Capsules are often regarded as portion of the cell
envelope
 Capsular constituents vary among the different species of
prokaryotes.
 Many bacteria have slimy layers, consisting of
polysaccharides only; others have proteins within the
polysaccharide capsule.
 Both serve to enable the bacteria to attach to tissues and
to resist phagocytic digestion.
 The basic difference between the capsule and the slim is
their property of firm attachment to the cell.
 The gels formed by the capsule adhere to the cell whereas
the slim can easily be washed off.
 Capsule … Cont’d
 Capsule can be detected by Indian ink staining in which the
capsule stands out as a halo.
 Some of the important characteristics of capsule include:
 Usually it is weekly antigenic
 Not necessary for viability
 Endows virulence
 important in adhesion
 Protects from phagocytosis
 Capsulated strains are invariably non motile
 The organism in which capsules have been demonstrated
include: Pneumococci, klebsella, Escerchia coli, hemophilus
influenza, etc.
Cytoplasmic membrane (Plasma membrane)

 It is the actual barrier between the interior and exterior of the

bacteria cell.
 The cytoplasmic membrane exhibits a well- defined selective
permeability, excretion of enzyme, and biosynthesis of cell well
and other proteins
 The bacterial transport system and the principal energy system
(oxidative phosphophorylation) are located in the cytoplasmic
membrane.
 Cytoplasmic membrane … Cont’d
 It accounts for 30% of the dry weight of bacterial cell
 Chemically, the plasma membrane consists of proteins and
phospholipids.
 It is 60% protein, 20 – 30% lipid and 10-20% carbohydrate

 Although procaryotes lack any intracellular organelles for

respiration or photosynthesis, many species possess the
physiologic ability to conduct these processes, usually as a
function of their plasma membrane.

Function of Cell Membrane

 Regulates the transport of nutrients and waste products into and
out of the cell. (It is selectively permeable)
 Assists DNA replication
 Captures energy in ATP (i.e it is site of oxidative phosphorulation )
 Cytoplasm

 viscous watery solution of soft gel, containing a variety

organic and inorganic solutes and numerous small granule
called ribosomes

 The cytoplasm consists of water, enzymes, oxygen, waste

products, essential nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids
and a complex mixture of all the materials required by the
cell for its metabolic functions.
2. Cellular Element Enclosed with in the Cell Envelope
Mesosomes:
 are complex invaginations of cytoplasmic membrane in to
the cytoplasm seen in many bacteria, but not in all.
◦ Increase in the total surface area of the membrane.
◦ Mesosomes are attached to chromosomes and are
involved in DNA segregation during cell division .
◦ Others are involved in to secretion of proteins and active
transport.
◦ It is involved in respiratory enzyme -activity. (Site of
oxidative phosphorylation)
Ribosomes
 Cytoplamic particles, which are the sites of protein synthesis
 Itis composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) (70%) and proteins
(30%)
 It constitutes 90% of the RNA and 40% of the total protein.
 The ribosomes of procaryotes are smaller than cytoplasmic
ribosomes of eucaryotes.
 Procaryotic
ribosomes are 70S in size, being composed of
20S and 50S subunits.
◦ S or Svedberg unit designates the sedimentation
coefficient of the rRNA
 Cytoplasmic inclusions
 are distinct granules that may occupy a substantial part of the
cytoplasm.
 are usually reserve materials of some sort. For example,
◦ carbon and energy reserves may be stored as glycogen (a
polymer of glucose)
◦ Poly-beta-hydroxy-butyric acid (a type of fat) granules.
◦ Polyphosphate inclusions are reserves of PO4 and possibly
energy;
◦ Volutin granules (poly metha sulphate)
◦ elemental sulfur (sulfur globules) are stored by some
phototrophic and some lithotrophic procaryotes as reserves of
energy or electrons.
 Some inclusion bodies are actually membranous vesicles or
intrusions into the cytoplasm which contain photosynthetic
pigments or specialized enzyme complexes.
 Nuclear material
 isconcentrated in the cytoplasm as a nucleoid
 The nucleoid consists of one long double-stranded circular DNA
molecule (chromosome).
 The chromosome serves as the control center of the bacterial cell,
carries the genetic information needed for producing several
thousand enzymes and other proteins.
 The size of the chromosome varies according to species.
 The prokaryotic nucleoid is considered primitive nucleus,
◦ it is not surrounded by a nuclear membrane
◦ It does not have a definite shape, and has little or no protein
material.
 Apart from nucleus, the bacteria may have some extra
chromosomal genetic material in the form of DNA, which is
known as Plasmid.
3. Cellular Element External to the Cell Envelope

Flagellum
 It is the organ of locomotion in bacterial cell and consists of
filament
 is free on the surface of bacterial cell
 Size: 3-20m in length and 0.01-0.013m in diameter.
 It is composed of protein named as flagellin
 The flagellar antigen in motile bacterium is named as H
(Hauch) antigen.
 Flagellum … Cont’d

 Each flagellum has 3 distinct parts

a) Filament or shaft
◦ It is external to the cell surface twisted helically and connected
to the hook at the cell surface.
b) Hook – connect the basal body with the filament
c) Basal body – embedded in cell envelope and consists of a small,
central rod surrounded by a series of ring
◦ L-ring – attach to Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) membrane
◦ P-ring – attach to peptidoglycan
◦ S-ring – located in the periplasmic space above the plasma
membrane
◦ M-ring – attach to cytoplasmic membrane
Flagellum cont…

Structure of a Flagella
 Prokaryotes flagellum consists of a:

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Flagellum … Cont’d
-The presence of flagella in bacterial cell is detected by
◦ Hanging drop preparation
◦ Swarming phenomenon on surface of plate agar
◦ Motility in semi solid media
Flagellar arrangements
1. Atrichous: Bacteria with no flagellum:
Ex. All cocci
2. Monotrichous: Bacteria with single polar flagellum:
Ex. V. cholera
3. Lophotrichous: Bacteria with bunch of flagella at one pole:
Ex. Pseudomonas flouresense
4. Amphitrichous: Bacteria with flagella at both poles:
Ex. Alcaligenes faecales
5. Peritrichous: Bacteria with flagella all over their surface:
Ex. S. typhi
Fig. Different flagellar arrangements
 Flagella provides swimming movement for most motile
procaryotic cells.
 The flagellar filament is rotated by a motor apparatus in the
plasma membrane allowing the cell to swim in fluid
environments.
 Spirochates moves by using a flagellum like structure called the
axial filament, which wraps around the spiral shaped cell to
produce an undulating motion.
 Non-motile (non flagellated) bacteria can move by blinding,
flexing, and spinning
Attachment or channels – Fimbriae & Pili

 Interchangeable terms used to designate short, hair-like structures

(finer filaments) on the surfaces of procaryotic cells.
 are extruding from the cytoplasmic membrane
 Pilli are smaller than flagella, but longer than fimbriae and there are
only a few per cell (bacteria typically only have 1 or 2 per cell).

 Like flagella, they are composed of protein called pilin arranged in

helical strand
Two functional types of pili may occur independently or together
on some cell.
I. Common pili
◦ Help for attachment of bacteria to epithelial cell
◦ They considered as virulence factor in some species of
bacteria, because they allow pathogens to attach to
(colonize) tissues and to resist attack by phagocytic white
blood cells.

II. Sex pili or F pili

◦ occur less commonly
◦ appear to be specifically involved in bacterial conjugation,
i.e transfer of genetic material (DNA) from one bacterium
to another.
 Fimbriae

ii. Fimbriae
 Found on many bacteria and are shorter & straighter
than flagella and are more numerous
 Sticky, proteinaceous, bristlelike projections
 Used by bacteria to adhere to one another, to hosts, and
to substances in environment
 May be hundreds per cell and are shorter than flagella
 Serve an important function in biofilms.

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Bacterial spores

 Spore: Dormant or Resting stage – escape unfavorable

conditions,
 The spore is a dehydrated, multishelled structure that
protects and allows the bacteria to exist in harsh
conditions.
 Are highly resistant to certain disinfectants, drying,
heating, acids, bases, radiation.
 When the supply of C, N & P is limited, certain bacteria
develop endospores.
 The spore is formed inside the parent vegetative cell –
hence the name “endospores”
 All spore-forming bacteria are Gram positive.
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Bacterial SPORES
 It does not take up ordinary stains
 It looks like areas of high refractivity under light
microscope
 Spore formation is confined largely to bacilli:
1.Aerobic – Bacillus
2.Obligate anaerobes – Clostridium
3.Other group - Obligate anaerobic cocci: Sporosarcina;
anaerobic actinomyces & Coxiella burnetti.
 Spores are located as:

 Central ,Terminal and Sub-terminal

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 ENDOSPORES

Spore location:
Terminal: C. tetani, Sub-terminal: C. botulinum
Central: C. perfringens

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Fig. Different
arrangements of
spores in the bacteria