Bacteria

Characteristics :
Single-celled prokaryotes
No membrane-bound nucleus
No other membrane-bound organelles
DNA in nucleoid
Most have specific shapes (rod, spherical, spiral)
Rigid cell wall contains peptidoglycan (unique to
bacteria)
Multiply via binary fission
Many move using flagella
Bacterial shape : Coccus round, Bacillus rod,
Spiral

Prokaryotic Profiles

Bacterial Cell

Structures outside the cell

wall
Glycocalyx general term for
anything that surrounds the cell
Organized and firmly attached outer
layer is called a CAPSULE
Capsules are often important in
bacterial virulence
Loosely attached and unorganized
outer layer is called a SLIME LAYER

Glycocalyx

Coating of molecules external to the cell

wall, made of sugars and/or proteins
Two types:
1. Slime layer - loosely organized and attached
2. Capsule - highly organized, tightly attached

Functions:

Protect cells from dehydration and nutrient

loss
Inhibit killing by white blood cells by
phagocytosis, contributing to pathogenicity
Attachment - formation of biofilms
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Flagella
Some bacteria are motile by means of
flagella
The arrangement of the flagella can be
in several ways:
Monotrichous single flagella at one end
Amphitrichous flagella at each end
Lophotrichous two or more flagella at one
end
Peritrichous flagella spread over the entire
cell

Fimbriae and Pili

Short, numerous hair like appendages on
the cell are called FIMBRIAE
Used for attachment to surfaces
PILI are longer than fimbriae, only one or
two per cell. Ex : Sex pili, used to transfer
genetic material between bacteria

Fimbriae
Fine, proteinaceous, hairlike
bristles emerging from the cell
surface
Function in adhesion to other cells
and surfaces

Pili

Rigid tubular structure made of pilin

protein
Found only in gram-negative cells
Function to join bacterial cells for partial
DNA transfer called conjugation

Bacterial Cell Wall

Cell wall is composed of a complex
macromolecule called PEPTIDOGLYCAN
Function of the cell wall is to
Maintain the shape of the cell
Prevent the cell from rupturing in high water
pressure
Anchor point for flagella

Cell Wall Comparison

Gram + cell
Many layers of
peptidoglycan
Thick rigid structure
Strongly binds
crystal violet in the
Gram stain
procedure making
the cells blue

Gram cell
One or two layers of
peptidoglycan
Outer
lipopolysaccharide
layer (LPS) toxin
Periplasmic space
Lightly binds crystal
violet in the Gram
procedure

Gram-Positive Cell Wall

Thick, homogeneous sheath of
peptidoglycan
20-80 nm thick
Includes teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid:
function in cell wall maintenance and enlargement
during cell division; move cations across the cell
envelope; stimulate a specific immune response
Some cells have a periplasmic space, between
the cell membrane and cell wall

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Gram + Cell Wall

Gram-Negative Cell Wall

Composed of an outer membrane and a
thin peptidoglycan layer
Outer membrane is similar to cell membrane
bilayer structure
Outermost layer contains lipopolysaccharides
and lipoproteins (LPS)
Lipid portion (endotoxin) may become toxic when
released during infections
May function as receptors and blocking immune
response
Contain porin proteins in upper layer regulate
molecules entering and leaving cell

Bottom layer is a thin sheet of peptidoglycan

Periplasmic space above and below peptidoglycan
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Gram Cell Wall

Comparison of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative

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Acid-fast cells

Cell wall is about 60% peptidoglycan

Cell wall contains MYCOLIC ACID
Waxy lipid substance
Cells generally stain as Gram +
Strongly bind carbol fuchsin in the
acid-fast staining procedure
Cells stain a bright purple red color in
the acid-fast procedure

ACID FAST BACTERIAL CELL WALL

Plasma Membrane
Phospholipid bilayer with associated
proteins
Selective permeability
Nutrient breakdown
Energy production

The Plasma Membrane

Selective permeability allows
passage of some molecules
Enzymes for ATP production
Photosynthetic pigments on foldings
called chromatophores or
thylakoids

Nuclear area

Bacterial cells contain ONE chromosome

Circular in structure
Just DNA, no associated proteins
Some cells contain PLASMIDS
Plasmids are separate from the main
chromosome
Also circular in structure, but smaller
Contain only a few genes
Often carry genes for antibiotic resistance

Plasmids
Small circular, double-stranded DNA
Free or integrated into the chromosome
Duplicated and passed on to offspring
Not essential to bacterial growth and
metabolism
May encode antibiotic resistance, tolerance
to toxic metals, enzymes, and toxins
Used in genetic engineering - readily
manipulated and transferred from cell to cell
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Ribosomes

Protein synthesis
Prokaryotic ribosomes are 70S in size
Eukaryotic ribosomes are 80S in size
Difference in size is important in
antibiotic activity

The Prokaryotic Ribosome

Protein synthesis
70S
: 50S + 30S subunits

Inclusions
Metachromatic granules (volutin) : Phosphate
reserves
Polysaccharide granules : Energy reserves
Lipid inclusions
: Energy reserves
Sulfur granules
: Energy reserves
Carboxysomes
: Ribulose 1,5-diphosphate
carboxylase for CO2 fixation
Gas vacuoles
: Protein-covered cylinders
Magnetosomes
: Iron oxide (destroys H2O2)

Inclusions and granules

Intracellular storage bodies
Vary in size, number, and content
Bacterial cell can use them when
environmental sources are depleted
Examples: glycogen, poly hydroxybutyrate, gas vesicles for
floating, sulfur and phosphate granules
(metachromatic granules), particles of
iron oxide
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Endospores

Resting stage for certain bacteria

Spores form when nutrients become depleted
Spores are highly resistant to heat and drying
Two genera of bacteria that form spores are
Bacillus and Clostridium
Spores germinate when placed in fresh media
NOT a reproductive process, its SURVIVAL for
the cells

Formation of Endospores by
Sporulation

Prokaryotes with Unusual

Characteristics

Free-living nonpathogenic bacteria

Photosynthetic bacteria use
photosynthesis, can synthesize required
nutrients from inorganic compounds
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
Gram-negative cell walls
Extensive thylakoids with photosynthetic chlorophyll
pigments and gas inclusions

Green and purple sulfur bacteria

Contain photosynthetic pigment
bacteriochlorophyll
Do not give off oxygen as a product of photosynthesis

Gliding, fruiting bacteria

Gram-negative
Glide over moist surfaces

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