MICROBIO: LAB

PROKARYOTES

Characteristics/ Processes of Life

 GROWTH – an increase in size

 REPRODUCTION – an increase in number
 RESPONSIVENESS – an ability to react to environmental stimuli
 METABOLISM – controlled chemical reactions
 CELLULAR STUCTURE – membrane-bound structure capable of ALL of the above
functions

External Structure of Prokaryotic Cell

 GLYCOCALYSES (GLYOCALYX)
o Gelatinous, sticky substance that surrounds the outside of the cell
o CAPSULE – when the glycocalyx of a prokaryote is firmly attached to the cell
surface
o SLIME LAYER – when it is loose and water soluble
o Functions:
 Both types protect the cell from desiccation
 Both increase the cell’s ability to cause disease
 Capsules – protect cells from phagocytosis
 Slime layers – enable cells to adhere to each other and to environmental
surfaces
 FLAGELLA
o Responsible for cell motility; long, whip like extensions from the cell surface and
glycocalyx that propel a cell through its environment
o Composed of a filament, a hook and basal body

*** Filament – the whip like shaft that extends into the cell’s environment;
composed of FLAGELLIN (a CHON)

o Arrangement:
 Monotrichous – single flagellum
 Lophotrichous – grouped at one end of the cell
 Amphitrichous – grouped at both ends of the cell
 Peritrichous – cover the surface of the cell

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 o ENDOFLAGELLA – special flagella of spirochetes that spiral tightly around the
cell instead of protruding into the environment
 FIMBRIAE
o Short, sticky, proteinaceous, nonmotile extensions of some bacteria that help cells
adhere to one another to substances in the environment
o They have an important function in BIOFILMS – slimy masses of bacteria
adhering to a substrate/surface by means of fimbriae and glycocalyces
o PILI – hollow nonmotile tubes of CHON called PILIN
 They join2 bacteria cells and mediate the movement of DNA from one cell to
another – CONJUGATION.

Prokaryotic Cell Walls

 Provides structure and shape to the cell and protects it from osmotic forces
 Assists some cells in attaching to other cells or in eluding antimicrobial drugs

Bacterial Cell Walls

 Composed of PEPTIDOGLYCAN – complex polysaccharide; composed of 2 regularly

alternating sugars, N-acetyglucosamine (NGA) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)
 Gram (+) Cells
o Have relatively thick layer of peptidoglycan; with teichoic acids
o Thick cell wall retains the crystal violet dye used in Gram staining
 Gram (-) Cells
o Have only a thin layer of peptidoglycan
o Also have an outside membrane composed of phospholipids, porins (channel
proteins) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
o LPS – lipid portion is well known as LIPID A (Endotoxin)
o LIPID A – released from dead cells (infection with G-cells) when the cell wall
disintegrates and it may trigger fever, vasodilation, inflammation, shock and blood
clotting in humans

Morphology of Prokaryotic Cells

 4 Major Shapes
o Cocci – spherical
o Bacilli – rods, short bacilli – coccobacilli
o Spiral Forms – comma-shaped, s-shaped or spiral shaped
o Pleomorphic – lacks of distinct shape

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Reproduction of Prokaryotic Cells

 ALL reproduce asexually

o BINARY FISSION – parenteral cell disappears with the formation of 2 daughter
cells
o SNAPPING DIVISION – the parent’s outer wall tears apart with a snapping
movement to create the daughter cells
o BUDDING – an outgrowth of the original cell receives a copy of DNA, enlarges and
is taken out of the parent cell

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