Bacterial Cell

Presenter : Raihana Ali

Moderator : Dr Dekyong Angmo
 Introduction
Bacteria are one celled microscopic organisms

They are classified as prokaryotes

They are members of the

Domain - Bacteria (true bacteria; prokaryotic)

Kingdom -Protista

They have unique outer most covering - the cell wall not commonly found
in animal cells.

They are surrounded by Plasma Membrane---

They reproduce by simple division-- binary fission.

 Bacterial Morphology
Average size: 0.2 -2.0 m x 1 - 6 m
Largest bacteria ever described Epulopiscium fishelsonii, measures 600m x
80m.
Four basic shapes
1. Coccus
2. Bacillus
3. Spirals
4. Vibrio
Bacterial Morphology
Arrangements of cocci.
a) Division in one plane
produces diplococci and
streptococci.
b) Division in two planes
produces tetrads
c) Division in three planes
produces sarcinae
d) Division in multiple planes
produces staphylococci.
Bacterial Morphology( Contd-)
Arrangements of Bacilli
a) Single bacilli.
b) Diplobacilli- -a few joined pairs
of bacilli could serve as
examples of diplococci
c) Streptobacilli.
d) Coccobacilli.
Bacterial Morphology(Contd)

Spiral bacteria
1. Spirillum----a
1. helical shape, like a corkscrew,

2. fairly rigid bodies

2. Spirochete---helical and flexible

Vibrios

-curved rods
 Bacterial CellStructural
Components
Bacterial Surface Structures Internal Bacterial Structures
Glycocalyces Cytoplasm
Non-membranous Organelles
Flagella Ribosomes
Fimbria &Pili Cytoskeleton
Inclusions
Cell Wall
Mesosomes
Cell Membranes Plasmids
Nucleoid
 Glycocalyces

Gelatinous, sticky substance

Found external to the outer layer of the cell wall .

Composed of polysaccharides, polypeptides, or both.

Two Types of Glycocalyces

1. Capsule

2. Slime layer
 Glycocalyces
Capsule Slime layer

Composed of organized Poorly organised i.e., diffuse

repeating units of organic Loosely attached to cell wall

chemicals Water soluble
Firmly attached to cell wall Easily Washed off
Not easily Washed off
Functions of Glycocalyces
The capsule facilitates and maintains bacterial colonization of biologic
(e.g., teeth) and inanimate (e.g., prosthetic heart valves) surfaces through
the formation of biofilms.
Adherence of bacteria to cells and mucosal Surfaces
Protects cell from from toxic material( free radicals)
Promotes concentration of nutrients.
Resistance to dessication,
Protect bacterial cell from phagocytosis.
Can exclude Bacterial Viruses( Bacteriophage)
Usually antigenic (Serological detection forms the basis of Quellung test)
 Flagella
Long filamentous appendages

Arise at the level of cytoplasmic membrane

Responsible for cellular motility

Are not present on all prokaryotes

Typically seen in gram-ve bacteria rod shaped

Gram +ve rods (e.g. Listeria spp) & cocci( Enterococcus &
Vagococcus spp
 Flagella Arrangement

Number and placement determines if

monotrichous
lophotrichous
amphitrichous or
peritrichous
 Structure of Flagella
Composed of filament, hook, and
basal body
Filament :-
13-17 nm in diameter ,
Parallel subfibrils
30 -40kDa protein
flagellin
Hook :-
acts as a sleeve from which
the filament emerges,
permits transmission of a
rotary motion from basal body
to filament
 Structure of Flagella( Contd)

Basal body :-
is composed of M,S,P and L rings anchored in the membrane ,
periplasmic space , peptidoglycan and LPS outer membrane .

These ring structures rotate on energy dependent mechanism

causing flagella to move like a propellar.

Basal body anchors filament and hook to cell wall by a rod and a
series of either two or four rings of integral proteins
 Function of Flagella -Motility
Motility is due to rotation of flagella
Filament capable of rotating 360

Mechanism of rotation:

Run (or Swim )and tumble

Rotation propels bacterium through

environment

Rotation reversible, can be clockwise

or counterclockwise
 Characteristic features of Flagella

The ability of the organisms to express two types of flagella alternately is k/a
phase variation.

It occurs by the differential expression of chromosomal genes that code for

two variously structured flagellin proteins.

First recognized in enteric gram-ve bact ( e.g. Salmonella spp), but also occurs
in other spp such as N. gonorrhoeae.

Flagella proteins are H antigens (e.g., E. coli O157:H7)

 Axial filaments
Also named as Endoflagella

Found in Spirochetes----Cork
Screw Motion

T. pallidum Syphills

Borrelia burgdorferi ---Lyme

disease
 Fimbriae and Pili
Fimbriae
Non-flagellar hair like appendages
Fimbriae are also called as Attachment pili
Dimensions
10-20mm in length
3-25nm in diameter
Composed of protein fimbrillin
17-20 KD
Function
Promote adherence of bacteria

Virulence factor
 Pili
Fimbriae of gram negative bacteria that
function specifically in transfer of DNAfrom
one cell to another during process of
conjugation

Are encoded by a plasmid (F factor)

Functions

involved in specific pair formation for

exchange of genetic material during
conjugation &

also serve as attachment sites for

bacteriophages.
 Bacterial Cell Wall
Chemically complex structure present between the
cell membrane and capsule/slime layer

Composed of macromolecular network of Peptidoglycan

Peptidoglycan found in all bacterial species except for cell-

wall deficient mycoplasmas & ureaplasmas
 Peptidoglycan structure

Peptidoglycan consists of repeating disaccharide attached by

polypeptides to form a lattice that surrounds and protects the entire cell
Disaccharide portion is made up of

Monosaccharides called N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-

acetylmuramic acid (NAM)joined together by short peptide chains

N-acetylmuramic acid carries a tetrapeptide side chain

Peptidoglycan structure
Peptidoglycan structure
Peptidoglycan structure
 Gram Positive bacteria

Components Structure Functions

1. -Thick Osmotic stability, structural
Peptidoglycan 2. 4080% of dry weight of the cell integrity, cell shape; permeable
Layer wall
to antibiotics
3. Several layered
Trapped with proteins,
Peptidoglycan Matrix polysaccharides &
unique molecule k/a teichoic acids
Polymers of either ribitol or glycerol
Teichoic acids units joined by phosphodiester linkages. 1. Adhesion to host cells,
Ribitol teichoic acids assoc 2. weak endotoxin activity,
with cell wall, 3. Antigenic
Glycerol teichoic acids assoc 4. -stabilize the cell wall
with inner aspect of cell memb.

S layer Consists of protein or glycoprotein 1. protect the org from stressful/

molecules harsh environs
oblique, square or hexagonal, 2. May inhibit phagocytosis
packed lattice like structure. &/or prevent binding of
complement & Ig.
 Gram Negative bacteria
Components Structure Functions
Peptidoglycan 1. Thin Layer 12 layers Osmotic stability, structural
Layer 2. 28 nm integrity, cell shape; permeable
to antibiotics
Periplasmic Space Location- -Transport of nutrients,
Between cytoplasmic and outer -degradation of macromolecules
membranes
Outer membrane Phospholipid bilayer, porins, its inner part resembles in
transport and other proteins, composition with that of the
lipopolysaccharide cell membrane its outer part
contains a distinctive
component called
lipopolysaccharide.

Lipopolysacharide Complex glycolipids 1. Endotoxin activity--(lipid

consisting of 3 major components:
1. - hydrophobic lipid portion, A)
2. lipid A---: (anchored in outer 2. anticomplement activity
membrane
3. - core polysaccharide region ----(O antigen)
4. - O-specific polysaccharide side
chain
 Difference Between Gram Positive and
Gram negative Cell Wall
Characters Gram-positive cell wall Gram-negative cell wall

Thickness 1580 nm 2 nm
Lipid content 25% 1520%
Teichoic acid Present Absent
Variety of amino acid Few Several
Aromatic amino acid Absent Present
Action as endotoxin No Yes
Sulfur-containing amino Absent Present
acid
Treatment with Protoplast Spheroplast
lysozyme
Diagrammatic Difference b/w Gram positive
and Gram negative cell wall
 Gram Negative Bacteria--Lipopolysacharide
LPS mol high mol wt complex glycolipids
Consisting of 3 major components:
1. Lipid A
2. Core polysaccharide region
3. O-specific polysaccharide side chain
Lipid A Composed of : hydroxymyristic
Glucosamine disaccharide acid, a unique fatty
hydroxyl groups disaccharide unit is acid, which is
esterified to -hydroxy fatty acids associated with
examples endotoxic activity
of the LPS
Core Core polysaccharide contains 2 two Linked to lipid A.
polysacch characteristic sugars Covalently b/w
aride 8C-ketodeoxyoctanoic acid (KDO) and hepatose lipid A
Region 7C-a heptose
O-specific are attached to core polysaccharide &
side are responsible for antigenic specificity of
chains individual isolates.
Gram Negative Bacteria--
Lipopolysacharide
Acid-fast Cell Walls
Bacteria with No Cell Wall: Mycoplasmas
Instead, have cell membrane
which incorporates
cholesterol compounds
(sterols), similar to
eukaryotic cells
Cannot be detected by
typical light microscopy
 Functions of Cell Wall
It helps maintain the shape of a bacterium

Prevent bacterial cells from rupturing when the water pressure

inside the cell is greater than that outside the cell

It serves as a point of anchorage for flagella.

It is used to differentiate major types of bacteria on the basis of

chemical composition of cell wall
 Bacterial Cytoplasmic Membrane

Referred to as phospholipid bilayer

A thin structure-: 510 nm

Cytoplasm of all bacterial cells surrounded by cytoplasmic membrane

Gram +ve bacteria : lies immediately within the cell wall peptidoglycan.

Gram ve bacteria : adjacent to periplasmic space

 Bacterial Cytoplasmic Membrane-
Structure
Composed of lipids and
associated proteins
30-60% phospholipids
&
50-70% protein by
weight.
Approximately half composed
of proteins that act as
recognition proteins,
enzymes, receptors, carriers,
or channels
 Bacterial Cytoplasmic Membrane-
Structure( Contd)
Most bact. cell membrane contain

1. Phosphatidyl glycerol

2. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine

3. Diphosphatidyl glycerol
 Bacterial Cytoplasmic Membrane-Structure( Contd)

Prokaryotic Cytoplasmic Membrane

do not contain sterols exceptions being mycoplasms & ureaplasmas(

incorporate sterols from the growth medium into their cell memb )

many bacterial membranes contain pentacyclic sterol-like molecules

called hopanoids.

have a higher proportion of protein than eukaryotic membranes.

Carbohydrate are often attached to the outer surface of plasma

membrane proteins
Bacterial Cytoplasmic Membrane-Function
Cytoplasmic Membrane Functions
Components
General Functions 1. Selectively permeable barrier
2. Nutrient & waste transfer
3. Secretion of Toxins & enzymes
4. Detection of environmental cues for
chemotaxis
5. Maintain concentration and electrical
gradient.
Specific Function Bacterial cell memb enzymes contains various
enzymes in:

1. -cellular respiration & oxidative

phosphorylation

2. -peptidoglycan & lipid biosynthesis

3. -Outer membrane biosynthesis (GNB)

4. -synthesis & secretion of bacterial toxins

5. -DNA replication
 Cytoplasm Matrix

1. Viscous watery solution or soft gel.

2. The matrix is largely formed by nearly 70% water.

3. Protoplast is the cell membrane & everything within it

4. Cytoplasmic enzymes
1. Function in both anabolic & catabolic processes

2. Associated with the inner aspect of the cell membrane

5. The cytoplasm stains uniformly with basic dyes in young cultures.

Cytoplasm Matrix Structures
Structures That are Present In Structures That are Absent In
Cytoplasm Matrix Cytoplasm Matrix

1. Organic or inorganic solutes 1. Endoplasmic reticulum or

2. Numerous ribosomes and 2. Membrane-bearing microsomes
polysomes. 3. Mitochondria,
3. Mesosomes ( Cell Membrane 4. Lysosomes
Invaginations)and 5. True cytoskeleton
4. intracytoplasmic inclusions 6. does not show any
bodies protoplasmic streaming
5. Cytoskeleton-like system of
proteins
 Intracytoplasmic Inclusions
Organisms Staining

Starch granules 1. Neisseria & with iodine

Organic 2. Clostridium spp (appear blue)
Inclusions with iodine
Glycogen Granules Enteric bacteria appear reddish
brown
Poly--hydroxybutyrate: 1. Bacillus Megatarium & fat-soluble dyes
[Polymer of 2. Pseudomonas Sudan black dye.
polyphosphates]
source of carbon & energy
Inrganic Metachromatic granules or Corynebacterium spp Demonstrated by
Inclusions volutin granules, Yersenia Pestis methylene blue/
----Phosphate storage Mycobacterium speies Alberts stain
appear
Reddish pink
Sulphur Granules Acidithiobacillus
derive energy by
oxidizing sulfur and
sulfur-containing
compounds.
 Plasmids
Extrachromosomal DNA is frequently present in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic org
plasmids.
Exist as covalently closed circles of dsDNA
1kb to > 400kb
Capable of autonomous replication,
inherited by progeny bacterial cells.
Contain genetic information for a variety of structures or functions related to

- bacterial virulence
- genes for antimicrobial resistance
- virulence-related adhesins
- toxin production
- resistance to heavy metal ions
 Site for antibiotics
1. Chloramphenicol
Ribosomes 2. Clindamycin
3. Erythromycin
4. Linezolid
Ribosomes sites of protein synthesis
Nonmembranous Organelles Site for antibiotics
1. Aminoglycosides
The ribosomes are 70S( mol wt of 2. Tetracyclins
80kDa.)
10-20nm in diameter
Exist in a dissociated state as 2
subunits ; 30S & 50S.
The 30S subunit contains the
16S RNA species
The 50S subunit contains both
23S & 5S RNA
 Ribosomes(Contd----)
Composed of both RNA and proteins.

Total cellular RNA

1. rRNA70%
2. tRNA -----16%
3. mRNA ----14%

Ribosomes mRNA aggregates are

termed as the polysomes or
polyribosomes
 Nucleus
Bacteria do not have a true nucleus

The genetic material is located in an irregularly shaped region

called the nucleoid.

Bacterial DNA lacks basic proteins-Histones proteins

Associated with Polyamine Proteins (Spermidine &

Putresine)

No Nuclear Membrane and no nucleolus

 Nucleus
Consists of a single circle of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA), arranged in a supercoiled circular structure.

Exceptions: Linear DNA : Borrelia Burgdorferi , Streptomycetes

Two Chromosomes: Vibrios

DNA mol weight= 106 kDa

Length=300 to 1400 m

Dimensions Nucleoid represents about 10% of the

cell volume

DNA is only 2-3% of the cells dry

weight.
 Nucleic acids of all bacteria are
composed of polynucleotides,
comprising of the following 3
components :
1. - a cyclic, five-carbon sugar
2. - a purine or pyrimidine
3. - a phosphate

Purine bases : adenine & guanine

Pyrimidine bases: cytosine,
thymine & uracil
 Double helix structure of DNA,
results from interaction between
the two complementary single
strands of nucleic acids.

Antiparallel chains of ssDNA are

held together by hydrogen bonds
3 b/w C & G
2 b/w A & T.
 Endospore
Dormant or resting stage in the growth cycle of the organism.

May be spherical, sub spherical or oval in shape.

May differ in their location within the cell ( central, terminal or sub
terminal )

Resistance to UV and gamma radiation, desiccation, lysozyme,

temperature, starvation, and chemical disinfectants

Do not stain with routine staining methods

Formed by aerobic gram+ve bacilli ( Bacillus ) & anaerobic gram+ve

bacilli (clostridium) & one gram-negative species, Coxiella burnetii
Structure of Endospore
 Summary: Properties of Prokaryotic Cells
Shows Presence of Glycocalyx
Presence of Flagella and Fimbriae
Unique cell wall structure---Peptidoglycan / Lipopolysacharides
Unique Structure of cell membrane,
No mitochondria, no Golgi apparatus , No Endoplasmic Reticulum ,no true
cytoskeletal system organelles
Presence of Intracytoplasmic Inclusions
Single circular chromosome, ds DNA, associated with Polyamine proteins
Extrachromosomal DNA as Plasmid
Absence of nuclear membrane, absence of nuclous
No histones proteins
Thank you
Next Presentation
Bacterial Growth Metabolism

Presenter:Dr Tufail Wani

Moderator: Dr Shaista
Date: 28.8.17