Cell structure and function for microbiologists

Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
Both have the same types of biological molecules
metabolism, protein synthesis, ATP

Eukaryotes have organelles

Much larger; more complex than prokaryotes
Processes compartmentalized into organelles

Nucleus
Protein synthesis (ribosomes, RER, Golgi)
Mitochondria; chloroplasts
Lysosomes
Plasma membranes have different modifications
Cytoskeleton

Eukaryotes may be multicellular

Cells may be variable within the
organism
Tissues
Organs
See table 3.7 on p. 72

Prokaryotes:
Have no nucleus; genome is circular
No histones
No membrane-bound organelles
Cell wall usually contains peptidoglycan (cell
walls are more complex)

Divide by binary fission

Prokaryotes include eubacteria and archaea

How do you tell them apart? Theyre all small!
morphology
chemical composition
nutritional and energy requirements

Typical shapes of bacteria

Most bacteria retain a particular shape; a few

are pleiomorphic

Characteristic grouping (or not grouping)

Even in groups, bacteria tend to be singlecelled in structure and behavior

Some have colonial traits
Well-studied example: myxobacteria
hunting colonies
fruiting bodies

Etc.

Typical prokaryotic structures

Working from the outside in

Extracellular components
Protection
dehydration
immune mechanisms
Attachment

Glycocalyx- polysaccharide, protein

capsule if organized
slime layer if not
May contribute to virulence

Some bacteria are motile (due to flagella)

Bacteria vary in the way flagella are attached
How they move: running, tumbling, swarming

Can move toward or away from light or

chemical stimuli
Flagellin protein is unique to prokaryotes

Cocci do not have flagella

Peritrichous
monotrichous
(or amphi, or lophotrichous

Pili- attachment; motility; conjugation

Cell membrane structure is similar in structure

and function to that of eukaryotes
Phospholipid bilayer
(everything moves through it, since there
are no organelles)
carrier proteins
generally involve proton motive force (i.e,
require energy and moving against the
concentration gradient)

Cell wall- hallmark of prokaryotes

Their reaction with Gram stain allows bacterai
to be divided into two groups
Positive-lots of peptidoglycan
Negative- thin layer, with an outer membrane
and periplasmic space in between
Many secreted proteins are found here

Structure of peptidoglycan

Gram-positive cell wall

Outer membrane is made of lipopolysaccharide

(LPS)

Porins allow molecules to pass through outer

membrane
LPS is protective
lipid A- strong inflammatory response
(endotoxin)
O-linked polysaccharide- antigenic

Significance of Gram-positive vs Gram-negative

antibiotic sensitivity
sensitivity to lysozyme
reaction with Gram reagents
crystal violet
iodine
alcohol
safranin

Mycoplasma do not have a cell wall

Lots of variety in archaea- but none have
peptidoglycan

Internal components
Nucleoid- with single, circular, supercoiled
DNA molecule
Many bacteria have plasmids
small, extrachromosomal, circular
piece of DNA
genes present are usually not required
but may be advantageous
(antibiotic resistance, resistance to metals)
Now used for genetic engineering

Ribosomes

Involved in protein synthesis

Prokaryotic ribosomes are smaller than
eukaryotic (70S vs 80S)
Some antibiotics bind to the 70S ribosome
How does that affect bacteria?

No membrane-bound organelles
Some have storage granules
Some aquatic bacteria have gas vesicles
Some have endospores (soil bacteria) that
enable them to lie dormant under
unfavorable conditions

NOT a reproductive structure

Summary
Eukaryotes have membrane-bound
organelles
Eukaryotes may be multicellular with highly
specialized cells
Prokaryotes have simple shapes and are
classified according to their morphology
Certain structures are unique to prokaryotes