Chapter 3: Microscopy and Cell Structure

Important Point:

Typical Bacterial Shapes

Also Pleomorphic Bacteria, which vary in their shape

(e.g., Corynebacterium).

Typical Bacterial Arrangements

streptococci

sarcina

staphylococci

Prokaryotic Cell Structures

Typical Prokaryotic Cell

Cytoplasmic Membrane

Movement across membrane for many substances is controlled by membrane proteins. Escherichia coli has >200 membrane proteins. Many of these proteins are involved in transport across membranes.

Others of these proteins allow a bacterium to sense its surrounding environments (e.g., as in chemotaxis).
Movement is via:

Simple Diffusion (including osmosis)

Facilitated Diffusion (with concentration gradient & no energy expended) Active Transport (against concentration gradient & energy expended)

Simple Diffusion -- Osmosis

solute molecules/ions

Cytoplasmic Membrane

Protein-Mediated Transport

Active Transport

The Prokaryotic Cell Wall

The Prokaryotic Cell Wall

Determines cell shape.

In some cases recognized by host immune system.

Prevents osmotic lysis.

Target for antibiotics.

In Bacteria, composed of Peptidoglycan.

Part of cell envelope.

Gram-Pos vs. Gram-Neg.

Gram-Positive Cell Envelope

Gram-Negative Cell Envelope

cell wall endotoxin

Gram-Negative Cell Envelope

LPS: Protection from antibiotics such as penicillin plus against certain toxins.

Periplasm: Site of preliminary nutrient degradation.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

Carbohydrate has negative charge and provides protection against some antibiotics & some toxins (e.g., detergents).

Lipid A = Endotoxin

Mycoplasma lack Cell Walls

Note: Pleomorphic

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes Walking Pneumonia

Protection (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae from phagocytosis)

Glycocalyx

Attachment (e.g., Streptococcus mutans causing dental plaques)

Capsule Staining

Capsules are more regular and gelatinous.

Slime Layers are less regular and more diffuse.

Bacteria Flagella (plural)

Flagellar Arrangements

Polar Flagellum

e.g., E. coli

also atrichous

Also Phototaxis, etc.

Chemotaxis

Pili (sing. Pillus)

Fimbriae (a kind of pilli)

Tips are Adhesins, used to adhere, e.g., to animal tissues

Closed Circular Chromosome

Also Plasmids, which are smaller, circular pieces of DNA.

Plasmids usually encode expendable functions, e.g., antibiotic resistance.

Ribosomes: Sites of Translation

On order of 10,000 per cell!

Form inside of vegetative cells (hence endo).

Endospores

Characteristic of many soil bacteria, e.g., Bacillus spp. & Clostridium spp.

Highly resistant to heat, U.V., desiccation, etc.

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