CELL STRUCTURE OF BACTERIA.

Lecturer. Dr. Abdinasir A. Barkadle

Bacterial Cell Structure

Fig. 4.1
2
Bacterial surface structures
 Cell Envelope
 Cytoplasmic membrane
 Cell wall

Cell wall-less bacteria

 No peptidoglycan layer
 Cell membrane contains sterols for
stability
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
 Cytoplasmic Membrane
 Phospholipid bilayer
 “Fluid mosaic” model
 Embedded proteins for active transport
 Enzymes for energy generation
 Photosynthetic pigments
Cell membrane
Peripheral
Membrane
Protein

Phospholipid

Integral
Membrane
Protein

Peripheral
Membrane
Protein
Function of Cytoplasmic Membrane
 Selective permeability to different
molecules.
 Active transport aided by permease.

 Play a role in DNA replication.

 Cell wall biosynthesis.

 Mesosomes ----- cell division.

 Cell wall
 Two major groups of bacteria based on
structure of cell wall
 Gram positive
 Thick peptidoglycan layer
 Gram negative
 Thin peptidoglycan layer
 Outer membrane containing LPS

 Gram stain is crucial first step toward

identification
Peptidoglycan (cell wall)
 Cell Wall
 Gram positive cell wall
 Thick peptidoglycan (PG) layer
 Acidic polysaccharides
 Teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid
 Gram-negative cell wall
 Thin peptidoglycan (PG) layer
 Lipopolysaccharide layer
 Porins
 Periplasmic space
Gram-positive cell envelope
Gram-negative cell envelope
 Cell Wall Structures

Structures associated with gram-positive and gram-negative cell walls.

 Function of Cell Wall
 Maintenance of the shape (due to rigidity of
peptidoglycan).
 Protects the cytoplasmic membrane cell
contents
 Rigidity
 Cell wall is osmotically insensitive
 Hypotonic solution – cell burst.
 Hypertonic solution – cell shrank.

 Isotonic solution – bacteria is life.

 L Forms

Mutations can cause some bacteria to lose the

ability to synthesize the cell wall and are called L
forms.
 Capsules
 are important for
 Adhesion

(Associated with virulence in bacteria)

 Avoidance of immune response

(Protects bacteria from phagocytic cells)

 Protection from dehydration
 Capsule

Streptococcus
pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae
Bacillus anthracis
 External structures
 Pili (Fimbriae) play roles in
 Adhesion
 Exchange of genetic material

 Avoidance of immune response

 Flagella are important for

 Motility (dispersal)
 Antigenic determinant (“H” antigens)
Number and location species specific
Pili and flagella

Fimbriae are smaller than

flagella and are important
for attachment.
Salmonella
 Pili

Pili enable conjugation to occur, which is the transfer of

DNA from one bacterial cell to another (“mating”).
 Flagellar Structure

Three components of a flagellum: filament, hook and basal body

It composed of protein subunits called flagellin.

Flagellar Arrangement

(a) Monotrichous (b) Lophotrichous

(c) Amphitrichous (d) Peritrichous
 Bacterial Motility

The rotation of the flagella enables bacteria to be motile.

 Internal Structures
 Cytoplasm
 Genome
 Inclusion bodies
 Cytoplasm
 Gelatinous solution containing
water, nutrients, proteins, and
genetic material
 Site for cell metabolism
 Chemical Analysis of Microbial
Cytoplasm
 70% water
 Proteins
 96% of cell is composed of 6 elements:
 carbon
 hydrogen
 oxygen
 phosphorous
 sulfur
 nitrogen
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 Bacterial Genome

Most bacteria contain a single circular double strand of DNA called a nucleoid.
 Prokaryotic Ribosome

A ribosome is a
combination of RNA and
protein, and is the site
for protein synthesis

Composed of large
(50S) and small (30S)
subunits

S = Svedverg unit,
measures molecular size
 Inclusion Bodies

Inclusion bodies enable a cell to store nutrients and to survive in

nutrient depleted environments
THANKS