Bacteria/Archaea (27.1-27.

6)
By: Bilkiss Mdodo, Tessa Lewis, Sabrina Doan
27.1: Structural and
Functional Adaptations
Contribute to
Prokaryotic Success
Prokaryotes
Prokaryotes
Most = unicellular; some form temporary of permanent colonies
Shapes (Name: Singular: Shape)
Cocci: Coccus: Spherical
Appear singularly, pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci),
clusters (staphylococci)
Bacilli: Bacillus: Rod
Usually solitary; chains (streptobacilli)
Spirilla: Spirillum: Range from comma like to long coils
Spirochetes = corkscrew-shaped
Cell Surface Structures
Cell wall
Maintains shape, physical protection, prevent burst in hypotonic environment
Plasmolyze: prokaryote lose water and shrink away from walls
Severe water lose = no cell reproduction
Contain peptidoglycan
Capsule: sticky layer of polysaccharide or protein
Enables prokaryote to adhere to substrates or others in a colony
Some protect against dehydration; some shield pathogenic prokaryotes
Fimbriae: hair-like protein appendages (singular fimbria)
Aka attachment pili
Help stick to substrates; shorter and more numerous than sex pili
Sex pili: appendages that pull two cells together prior to DNA transfer from one cell to
another
Gram Stain
Classify bacteria into: Gram-Positive & Gram-Negative
Gram-positive: have simpler walls w/ a relatively large amount of peptidoglycan
violet/blue
Some infectious and resistant to multiple antibiotics
Gram-negative: has less peptidoglycan and are structurally more complex with
an outer membrane that contains lipopolysaccharides (carbohydrates bonded to
lipids)
pink/ red
More resistant to antibiotics (outer membrane impedes drugs)
Effectiveness of antibiotics = ability to inhibit peptidoglycan cross-linking
Cell wall may not be functional
Doesnt affect human cells because they dont contain peptidoglycan
Motility
Half of all prokaryotes capable of directional movement
Flagella: (singular flagellum)
Most common structure for movement
May be scattered over entire surface of cell or concentrated at
one or both ends
Not covered by extention of plasma membrane
Different from eukaryotes in molecular composition and how it
moves
Taxis: movement toward or away from a stimulus
Internal and Genomic Organization
Simpler
Less DNA
Circular chromosome; fewer proteins; no nucleus;
chromosome in nucleoid
Lack complex compartmentalization
Has plasmids
Reproduction and Adaptation
Binary fission
Divide into 2 cells about every 1-3 hours; short generations
Some develop endospores
Evolves in short times -> adapts quickly
27.2: Rapid reproduction,
mutation, and genetic
recombination promote
genetic diversity in
prokaryotes
Reproduction and
Adaptation
Mutations happen quickly =
lots of adaptations & genetic
variation = adaptive
evolution
Genetic Recombination
Can recombine DNA from 2
different cells w/
transformation,
transduction, or
conjugation
Transfers good genes for
antibiotic resistance;
promotes adaptive evolution
 Can recombine DNA from 2
different cells w/
transformation,
transduction, or
conjugation
Transfers good genes for
antibiotic resistance;
promotes adaptive evolution
27.3: Diverse nutritional
and metabolic adaptations
have evolved in
prokaryotes
Modes of Nutrition
Photoautotrophs
photosynthetic organism that capture light to use it to drive the synthesis of
organic compounds and inorganic carbon compounds (EX: CO2, HCO3-)
Chemoautotrophs
only need inorganic carbon compounds (EX: CO2) as a carbon course; oxidize
inorganic substances for nutrition
Photoheterotrophs
harness energy from light but must obtain carbon in organic form
Chemoheterotrophs
must consume organic molecules to obtain energy and carbon
Metabolism
Role of Oxygen in Metabolism
Obligate aerobes, Obligate anaerobes, Anaerobic respiration, Facultative
anaerobes
Nitrogen Metabolism
Prokaryotes can metabolize variety of nitrogenous compounds
Some convert N2 -> ammonia (Nitrogen Fixation); usable by plants
Metabolic Cooperation
Some depend on metabolic activities of other prokaryotes
Ex. bacteria has photosynthetic cells and nitrogen fixing cells; both exchange
products it makes
Heterocytes
Some form surface coating biofilms
27.4: Molecular
systematics is
illuminating prokaryotic
phylogeny
Lessons from Molecular Systematics
Allows systematists to identify major groups of organisms thought
to descend from a common ancestor
Archaea Bacteria

Share traits with bacteria Diverse nutritional types

and eukaryotes Largest groups =
Some live in extreme proteobacteria and gram-
environments (thermophiles/ positive bacteria
halophiles)
Most methanogens
(methane producers) in soils,
lakes, and oceans live in
moderate environments
27.5: Prokaryotes play
crucial roles in the
biosphere
Chemical Recycling
Decomposition by
heterotrophic prokaryotes
and synthetic activities of
autotrophic and nitrogen-
fixing help recycle elements
in ecosystem
Ecological Interactions
Most prokaryotes have
symbiotic relationship w/
host
Mutualism: symbiotic
relationship where both parties
benefit
Commensalism: symbiotic
relationship where one
organism benefits while the
other is neither helped nor
harmed
Parasitism: symbiotic
relationship where an organism
(parasite) benefits at the
expense of the other (host)
27.6: Prokaryotes have
both harmful and
beneficial impacts on
humans
Pathogenic bacteria Prokaryotes in Research
and Technology
Cause disease by releasing Improve DNA technology
exotoxins or endotoxins Used in biodegradable
Potential weapons of plastics, vitamins, antibiotics
bioterrorism
Horizontal gene transfer can
spread genes associated
with virulence to harmless
strains
 Im so sorry (not really).
Kahoot! https://play.kahoot.it/#/?quiz
Id=75c26fda-f4ec-4ba2-ad82-219
a415f68fb