Chapter 4: Part 5

A Survey of
Prokaryotic Cells and
Microorganisms
Prokaryotes with Unusual Characteristics
• Free-living nonpathogenic bacteria
• Photosynthetic bacteria
• Use photosynthesis, can synthesize required nutrients from inorganic
compounds
• Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
• Green and purple sulfur bacteria
• Gliding, fruiting bacteria
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
• Gram-negative cell walls
• Extensive thylakoids with photosynthetic chlorophyll pigments
and gas inclusions
• Produce free oxygen during photosynthesis
• Oxygenic photosynthesis
• Major source of free O2 in atmosphere
Green and Purple Sulfur Bacteria
• Photosynthetic
• Contain photosynthetic pigment bacteriochlorophyll
• Do not give off oxygen as a product of photosynthesis
• Anoxigenic photosynthesis
Gliding and Fruiting Bacteria
• Gram-negative
• Glide over moist surfaces
• Most bacteria use flagella for motility
• These species are different
• Fruiting body releases protected
cells to disseminate
• Myxospores
Unusual Medically Significant Bacteria
• Obligate intracellular parasites
• Rickettsias
• Very tiny, gram-negative bacteria
• Most are pathogens
• Obligate intracellular pathogens
• Cannot survive or multiply outside
of a host cell
• Rickettsia rickettisii – Rocky
Mountain spotted fever
Unusual Significant Bacteria Con't
• Chlamydias
• Tiny
• Obligate intracellular parasites
• Not transmitted by arthropods
• Produce rugged cells that can survive outside of host
• Elementary Bodies or EBs
• Chlamydia trachomatis
• Severe eye infection
• One of the most common sexually transmitted diseases
• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Lung infections
Archaea: The Other Prokaryotes
• Constitute third Domain Archaea
• More closely related to Eukarya than to Bacteria
• Contain unique genetic sequences in their rRNA
• Have unique membrane lipids and cell walls
Comparison of Three Cellular Domains

Characteristic Bacteria Archaea Eukarya

Cell type Prokaryotic Prokaryotic Eukaryotic

Chromosomes Single, or few, circular Single, circular Several, linear

70S but structure is similar to

Types of ribosomes 70S 80S
80S
Unique ribosomal RNA
+ + +
signature sequences
Number of RNA sequences
One Three
shared with Eukarya
Presence synthesis similar
− +
to Eukarya
Presence of peptidoglycan
+ − −
in cell wall
Fatty acids with ester Long-chain, branched Fatty acids with ester
Cell membrane lipids
linkages hydrocarbons with ether linkages linkages

Sterols in membrane −(some exceptions) − +

Archaea
• Live in the most extreme habitats in nature, extremophiles
• Adapted to heat, salt, acid pH, pressure, and atmosphere
• Includes: methane producers, hyperthermophiles, extreme halophiles, and
sulfur reducers