Bacterial Cell

Structure & Function

Two Basic Types of Cells

______________ _____________________
Size of Living Things

1 m = 100 cm = 1,000mm = 1,000,000 µm = 1,000,000,000nm

1mm = 1000 µm = 1000000nm
1 µm = 1000nm
Size of Bacteria
 Average bacteria 0.5 - 2.0 um in diam.
◦ RBC is 7.5 um in diam.
 Surface Area ~12 um^2
 Volume is ~4 um
 Surface Area to Volume is 3:1
 Typical Eukaryote Cell SA/Vol is 0.3:1
 Food enters through SA, quickly reaches all

parts of bacteria
 Eukaroytes need structures & organelles
Shapes of Bacteria
 Coccus
◦ Chain = Streptoccus
◦ Cluster = Staphylococcus
 Bacillus
◦ Chain = Streptobacillus
 Coccobacillus
 Vibrio = curved
 Spirillum
 Spirochete
Bacterial Structures
 Flagella
 Pili

 Capsule

 Plasma Membrane
 Cytoplasm

 Cell Wall

 Lipopolysaccharide

s
 Teichoic Acids
 Inclusions

 Spores
Prokaryotes
Cytoplasm:

 Also known as proto-plasm.

 Gel-like matrix of water, enzymes, nutrients, wastes,

(organic n inorganic solutes) and gases and contains cell
structures like numerous ribosomes and polysomes.
 No ER n memb.bound organelles.
 Shows signs of internal mobility like cytoplasmic streaming
, amoeboid movement and formation and disappearance of
vacoules.
Location of growth, metabolism, and replication.

Granules or inclusions:
 Bacteria’s way of storing nutrients.
 Staining of some granules aids in identification.
Prokaryotes
Ribosomes:
 Small electron dense particles

 Involved in prt.synthesis

 70 S(30 S + 50S)

 Different from host cell ribosomes in SR.

 Streptomycin interferes with bacterial metabolism

sparing the host cell ribosomes.

 3 types of RNAs:

 Ribosomal, transfer , mRNA

 Found within cytoplasm or attached to

plasma membrane.
Plasma Membrane

 Separates the cell from its environment.

 Limits the protoplast
 Thin n elastic , can be only seen with electron microscope
 With the exception of mycoplasma , bacterial cytoplasmic memb.lacks
sterol.
 Phospholipid molecules oriented so that hydrophilic,water-loving
heads directed outward and hydrophobic ,water-hating tails directed
inward.
 Proteins embedded in two layers of lipids (lipid bilayayer)

FUNCTIONS:
Semipermeable membrane
 Housing enzymes for cell wall, outer membrane synthesis,
assembly n secretion of extractoplasmic n extracellular substances
 Generation of ATP
 Cell motility
 Mediation of chromosomal segragation during replication
Cell Wall
 Peptido-glycan Polymer (amino acids +
sugars)
 Unique to bacteria
 Sugars; NAG & NAM

◦ N-acetylglucosamine
◦ N-acetymuramic acid
 D form of Amino acids used not L form
◦ Hard to break down D form
 Amino acids cross link NAG & NAM
Prokaryotes – Cell Wall

 Peptidoglycan is a huge polymer of

interlocking chains of identical
peptidoglycan monomers.

 Provides rigid support while freely

permeable to solutes.

 Backbone of peptidoglycan molecule

composed of two derivatives of glucose:
- N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
- N-acetlymuramic acid (NAM)

 NAG / NAM strands are

connected by inter-
peptide bridges.
 Prokaryotes - Cell Wall
From the peptidoglycan inwards all bacteria are very similar. Going
further out, the bacterial world divides into two major classes (plus a
couple of odd types). These are:

Gram Positive Gram

Negative
Prokaryotes - Cell Wall
Gram-Positive & Gram-Negative
Q: Why are these differences in cell wall structure so
important?
Teichoic Acids
 Gram + only
 Glycerol, Phosphates, & Ribitol
 Attachment for Phages
 Participate in MG supply to the cell
 Antigenic determinant
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
 Endotoxin or Pyrogen
◦ Fever causing
◦ Toxin nomenclature
 Endo- part of bacteria
 Exo- excreted into environment
 Structure
◦ Lipid A
◦ Polysaccharide
 O Antigen of E. coli, Salmonella
 G- bacteria only
◦ Alcohol/Acetone removes primary stain durind
gram’s staining.
Chapter 4
LPS (cont’d.)
 Appearance of Colonies
◦ Mucoid = Smooth (lots of LPS or capsule)
◦ Dry = Rough (little LPS or capsule)

 O Antigen of Salmonella and E. coli

◦ 2,000 different O Ags of Salmonella
◦ 100’s different O Ags of E. coli
 E. coli O157

 O Ags differ in Sugars, not Lipid A

Cytoplasm
 80% Water {20% Salts-Proteins)
◦ Osmotic Shock important

 DNA is circular, Haploid

◦ Advantages of 1N DNA over 2N DNA
◦ More efficient; grows quicker
◦ Mutations allow adaptation to environment quicker

 Plasmids; extra circular DNA

◦ Antibiotic Resistance

 No organelles (Mitochondria, Golgi, etc.)

Prokaryotes - Glycocalyx
Some bacteria have an additional layer outside
of the cell wall called the glycocalyx.

This additional layer can come in one of two

forms:

1- Glycoproteins loosely associated with

the cell wall.

- Slime layer causes bacteria to adhere to

solid surfaces and helps prevent the cell
from drying out.

- Streptococcus
The slime layer of Gram+ Streptococcus
mutans allows it to accumulate on tooth
enamel (yuck mouth and one of the causes
of cavities).

Other bacteria in the mouth become

trapped in the slime and form a biofilm &
eventually a buildup of plaque.
Prokaryotes - Glycocalyx

2.Polysaccharides firmly attached

to the cell wall.

 Capsules adhere to solid

surfaces and to nutrients in the
environment.

 Adhesive power of capsules is a

major factor in the initiation of
some bacterial diseases.

 Capsule also protect bacteria

from being phagocitized by cells
of the hosts immune system.
Prokaryotes – Surface Appendages

 Some prokaryotes have distinct

appendages that allow them to move
about or adhere to solid surfaces.

 Consist of delicate strands of

proteins.

 Flagella: Long, thin extensions that

allow some bacteria to move about
freely in aqueous environments.

 Endoflagella: Wind around

bacteria, causing movement in
waves.
Flagella

 Motility - movement
 Swarming occurs with some bacteria

◦ Spread across Petri Dish

◦ Proteus species most evident
 Arrangement basis for classification
◦ Monotrichous; 1 flagella
◦ Lophotrichous; tuft at one end
◦ Amphitrichous; both ends
◦ Peritrichous; all around bacteria
Pili
 Short protein appendages
◦ smaller than flagella

 Adhere bacteria to surfaces

◦ E. coli has numerous types
 K88, K99, F41, etc.
◦ Antibodies to it will block adherence.

 F-pilus; used in conjugation

◦ Exchange of genetic information
Endospores
 Resistant structure
◦ Heat, irradiation, cold
◦ Boiling >1 hr still viable
◦ Takes time and energy to destroy spores

 Location important in classification

◦ Central, Subterminal, Terminal

 Bacillus stearothermophilus -spores

◦ Used for quality control of heat sterilization
equipment
 Bacillus anthracis - spores
◦ Used in biological warfare
 Spore Formation
This is what happens …………..

Cell
Spore forms
in cell
 Cell
disintegrates
Spore is
released
Spore starts
to germinate
Spore continues to
germinate
Now see as, in suitable conditions, the cell begins to divide
(binary fission)………………………….
Prokaryotes – Arrangements of Cells

 Bacteria sometimes occur in groups,

rather than singly.

 _________ divide along a single axis,

seen in pairs or chains.

 _________ divide on one or more

planes, producing cells in:
- pairs (diplococci)
- chains (streptococci)
- packets (sarcinae)
- clusters (staphylococci).

 Size, shape and arrangement of cells

often first clues in identification of a
bacterium.

 Many “look-alikes”, so shape and

arrangement not enough for id of
genus and species.