The differences between prokaryotic cells and

eukaryotic cells

1.

Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus, bound by a double membrane. Prokaryotic

cells have no nucleus. The purpose of the nucleus is to sequester the DNA-related
functions of the big eukaryotic cell into a smaller chamber, for the purpose of
increased efficiency. This function is unnecessary for the prokaryotic cell, because its
much smaller size means that all materials within the cell are relatively close
together. Of course, prokaryotic cells do have DNA and DNA functions. Biologists
describe the central region of the cell as its nucleoid (-oid=similar or imitating),
because its pretty much where the DNA is located. But note that the nucleoid is
essentially an imaginary structure. There is no physical boundary enclosing the
nucleoid.
2.
Eukaryotic DNA is linear; prokaryotic DNA is circular (it has no ends).
3.
Eukaryotic DNA is complexed with proteins called histones, and is organized
into chromosomes; prokaryotic DNA is naked, meaning that it has no histones
associated with it, and it is not formed into chromosomes. Though many are sloppy
about it, the term chromosome does not technically apply to anything in a
prokaryotic cell. A eukaryotic cell contains a number of chromosomes; a prokaryotic
cell contains only one circular DNA molecule and a varied assortment of much
smaller circlets of DNA called plasmids. The smaller, simpler prokaryotic cell
requires far fewer genes to operate than the eukaryotic cell.
4.
Both cell types have many, many ribosomes, but the ribosomes of the eukaryotic
cells are larger and more complex than those of the prokaryotic cell. Ribosomes are
made out of a special class of RNA molecules (ribosomal RNA, or rRNA) and a
specific collection of different proteins. A eukaryotic ribosome is composed of five
kinds of rRNA and about eighty kinds of proteins. Prokaryotic ribosomes are
composed of only three kinds of rRNA and about fifty kinds of protein.

5.

The cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells is filled with a large, complex collection of

organelles, many of them enclosed in their own membranes; the prokaryotic cell
contains no membrane-bound organelles which are independent of the plasma
membrane. This is a very significant difference, and the source of the vast majority of
the greater complexity of the eukaryotic cell. There is much more space within a
eukaryotic cell than within a prokaryotic cell, and many of these structures, like the
nucleus, increase the efficiency of functions by confining them within smaller spaces
within the huge cell, or with communication and movement within the cell.
6.
Eukaryotic cells are the largest cells, while Prokaryotic cells are smaller than
Eukaryotic cells. A eukartotic cell is about 10 times bigger than a prokaryotic cell.
7.
Eukaryotic cells either have a plasma membrane or a cell wall in addition to the
plasma membrane; prokaryotic cells have a plasma membrane in addition to a
bacterial cell wall
Prokaryotic cells:

Most primitive, earliest form of life

Do not have a pre-defined nucleus

Chromosomes are dispersed in the cytoplasm

Contain no membrane-bound organelles

Have circular chromosomes and lack histone proteins

Most metabolically diverse

Small typically 0.2-2.0 micrometers in diameter

Have a primitive cytosketetal structures or dont have a cytoskeleton at all

Smaller (70S) ribosomes

Dont undergo meiosis but reproduce sexually by the transfer of DNA fragments
through conjugation
Eukaryotic cells:

More complex, evolved organsims

Contain true nuclei in which chromosomes are compacted as chromatin

Contain membrane-bound organelles

Have linear DNA and contain histone proteins

Larger typically 10-100 micrometers in diameter

Have a complex cytosketeton

Larger (80S) ribosom

Reproduce sexually with the use of meiosis

What is cyanophycin?
(CGP, Cyanophycin granule polypeptide)
Only known non-protein nitrogen storage
polymer in cyanobacteria

Produced by the cyanobacteria cells in times of

stress, except during nitrogen starvation

Cyanophycin, or multi-L-arginyl-poly (L-aspartic acid), is a non-protein, non-ribosomally

produced amino acid polymer composed of anaspartic acid backbone and arginine side groups.
Cyanophycin was first detected in 1887 by the Italian botanist Antonino Borz and can be
found in most cyanobacteria and a few heterotrophic bacteria such as Acinetobacter sp.
[1]

Cyanophycin is largely insoluble under physiological conditions and is accumulated in the form

of granules in the cytoplasm during phosphate or sulfur starvation, generally in the early and
mid-stationary phase. It is used as a nitrogen- and possibly carbon-storage compound and also
serves as a dynamic buffer for fixed nitrogen in cyanobacterial heterocysts. Nitrogen and

carbon are mobilized from cyanophycin by intracellular cyanophycinase in the form of

aspartate-arginine dipeptides.
Cyanophycin is synthesized from arginine and aspartate in an ATP-dependent
reaction catalyzed by a single enzyme, cyanophycin synthetase.[2] Cyanophycin is of potential
interest to biotechnology as a source of polyaspartic acid. Due to its unusual polyamphoteric
character, cyanophycin is soluble in water under acidic (0.1 M HCl) and alkaline conditions.
Heterologous expression of cyanophycin synthetase allows production of cyanophycin in a
number of biotechnologically relevant bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium

glutamicum.[3]

Abstract
Cyanophycin (CGP) is a nitrogen-rich, polypeptide-like storage material of cyanobacteria and
heterotrophic bacteria. CGP inclusions were discovered more than 100 years ago and from that time
on have attracted the interest of many researchers with both basic and applied research interests.
The discovery of CGP goes along with the development of the light microscope and the electron
microscope, respectively, as well as application of differential staining techniques and refined
analysis methods that were employed to determine its chemical structure. CGP has different
physiological functions depending on the cell type and organism in which it occurs, but can be
considered as a widespread intracellular nitrogen reserve. Its biosynthesis is mediated by the
activity of a single enzyme, the cyanophycin synthetase, that possesses two putative active sites
responsible for the alternating incorporation of the amino acids arginine and aspartic acid.
Heterologous expression of CGP synthetase genes ( cphA) and the activity of the enzyme during in
vitro studies led to the formation of CGP with altered monomer composition. By employment of
recombinant bacterial strains that accumulate large amounts of CGP, strategies were developed to
produce CGP in semitechnical amounts in comparably cost effective and time saving biotechnological
processes. CGP inclusion body formation in transgenic plant lines demonstrated the potential of
eukaryotic organisms to serve as hosts for heterologous expression of cphA and as potential future
CGP production organisms.