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BACTERIOLOGY - CHAPTER ONE THE BACTERIAL CELL

Dr Alvin Fox

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Logo image Jeffrey Nelson, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois and The MicrobeLibrary

READING: Murray et al., Microbiology 6th Ed., Chapter 2

PROKARYOTES AND EUKARYOTES KEY WORDS Prokaryotic Eubacteria (Bacteria) Archaebacteria (Archaea) Eukaryotic Plasmid Chromosome Ribosome Peptidoglycan (murein, mucopeptide) Gram stain Gram negative Gram positive Cell envelope Cell membrane Cell wall Outer membrane Periplasmic space Oxidative phosphorylation Spheroplast/protoplast Flagella Chemotaxis Axial filament Periplasmic binding protein Permeases Storage Granules Pili (fimbriae) Capsule (slime layer, glycocalyx) Endospore

"True" bacteria (which include all bacteria that infect man) are members of one kingdom (the group of organisms often found in extreme environments form a second kingdom (archaeba two kingdoms of organisms appear similar, especially in the absence of a nucleus, and thus prokaryotes. However, they have major biochemical differences. Most archaea live in enviro where they experience temperatures as high as 80 degrees C and a pH of 2. These are call methane-containing (methanogens) or high salt (extreme halophiles) environments. Archaea

Based on DNA sequence similarities, it appears that the archaea and eukaryotes diverged f diverged from each other (figure 1a) and in some ways, archaea are biochemically more like eubacteria. For example, the RNA polymerase of archaea is as complex, in terms of numbe polymerases and there is considerable amino acid homology with some of the eukaryotic su archaea is also more similar to that of eukaryotes than eubacteria, although, like the eubacte transcribe these to polycistronic mRNA. Similarity also exists between the protein synthesis suggesting that the overall protein synthesis mechanisms of eukaryotes and archaea may b eubacteria and the archaea are quite distinct in sequence.

Eubacteria (with the exception of the genera Mycoplasma and Chlamydia) possess peptidog mucopeptide, cell wall skeleton). Peptidoglycan, contains a unique sugar, muramic acid, not Archaebacteria contain a pseudomurein that is different in structure from eubacterial murein

In view of the increasing number of similarities between the archaea and the eukaryotes, the used. All other cellular forms of life (including plants, animals, and fungi) are referred to as e Members of the Archaea are not human pathogens and will not be discussed further.

Similarities between Archaea and Eukaryotes Eubacteria Nucleus Nucleosomes/histones Operons/polycistronic mRNAs No No Yes No No Archaea No Yes Yes No Yes

Figure 1a The domains of life

Introns TATA Box binding protein Organelles

No

No

Chromosomes RNA polymerase Protein initiator amino acid Protein synthesis sensitivity to diphtheria toxin Peptidoglycan

One Circular One (simple) N-formyl methionine

One Circular More than one (complex) Methionine

Insensitive Yes

Sensitive No

Protein synthesis

initiation factors ribosomal proteins elongation factors

of Archaea are more similar to those of eukaryote

Unique features of Archaea

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROKARYOTES/EUKARYOTES

The prokaryotic cell, in contrast to the eukaryotic cell, is not compartmentalized. Nuclear me reticulum, Golgi body, phagosomes and lysosomes are not present (Figures 1b, 2 and 3). P single circular chromosome. Since there is no nuclear membrane, the chromosome is bound membrane - the mesosome. Prokaryotic ribosomes are 70S (S stands for Svedberg unit, a ribosomes are larger (80S). Prokaryotic ribosomal subunits are 30S and 50S (eukaryotic are RNA, whilst the 50S ribosome contains 23S and 5S RNA. Ribosomal RNA is larger in eukar Bacterial membranes generally do not contain sterols (e.g. cholesterol).

BACTERIAL STRUCTURES Figure 1b. Comparison of eukaryotes and "eubacterial" prokaryotes

Despite their lack of complexity compared to eukaryotes, a number of eubacterial s bacteria possess all of these components.

Plasmids These are extra-chromosomal DNA, usually present in multiple copies, that often code for p resistance factors. Some forms are also involved in bacterial replication. Figure 2. An animal cell

Figure 3. The prototype bacterial cell

The cell envelope Bacteria can be divided into two groups on the basis of staining with the Gram stain; Gram p crystal violet on washing, Gram negative do not. All bacteria have a cell membrane where o there are no mitochondria). Outside the cell membrane is the cell wall which is rigid and prot Gram positive bacteria, the cell wall peptidoglycan layer is a much thicker layer than in Gram bacteria have an additional outer membrane. The outer membrane is the major permeability The space between the inner and outer membranes is known as the periplasmic space. Gra enzymes in the periplasmic space. Gram positive bacteria lack a periplasmic space; instead perform extracellular digestion. Digestion is needed since large molecules can not readily pa present) or cell membrane.

Wall-less forms of Bacteria When bacteria are treated with 1) enzymes that are lytic for the cell wall e.g. lysozyme or 2) biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, wall-less bacteria are often produced. Usually these treatmen Wall-less bacteria that can not replicate are referred to as spheroplasts (when an outer mem outer membrane is not present). Occasionally wall-less bacteria that can replicate are gener

Flagella Some bacterial species are mobile and possess locomotory organelles - flagella (Figure 4). environment and respond to specific chemical foodstuffs or toxic materials and move toward Flagella are embedded in the cell membrane, extend through the cell envelope and project a Figure 4. E. coli - rod number of proteins including flagellin. They move the cell by rotating with a propeller like act prokaryote with multiple flagella have a similar function to flagella. Binding proteins in the periplasmic space or cell membran (SEM x26,730) Dennis Kunkel and amino acids) causing methylation of other cell membrane proteins which in turn affect th Microscopy, Inc. Used with permission Permeases are proteins that then transport these foodstuffs through the cell membrane. Ene stored when necessary in cytoplasmic "storage granules" which consist of glycogen, polyhyd

Pili (synonym: fimbriae) The types of pili (or whether they are produced at all) varies both among and between speci Figure 5. E. coli with fimbriae (TEM cell (Figure 5). Some are involved in sexual conjugation and others allow adhesion to host e
x17,250)
Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. Used with permission

Figure 6
Capsule-producing bacillus-shaped bacteria. The capsule is composed of polysaccharides and polyproteins. Capsules have a role in adherence, virulence, protection, securing nutrients, and cell-to-cell recognition. Capsules vary in thickness and can easily be 2 times the volume of the organism. In a capsule stain, the background is stained grayish blue and the cells are stained red. The capsule is unstained and appears as a halo around the cell. Judy Bowen
Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. Memphis, Tennessee, USA and The MicrobeLibrary

Capsules and slime layers (Figure 6) These are structures surrounding the outside of the cell envelope. When more defined, they less defined as a slime layer or glycocalyx. They usually consist of polysaccharide; however of a polypeptide (polyglutamic acid). They are not essential to cell viability and some strains capsule, whilst others do not. Capsules of pathogenic bacteria inhibit ingestion and killing by during in vitro culture.

Endospores (spores) These are a dormant form of a bacterial cell produced by certain bacteria when starved (figu cell is referred to as vegetative. The spore is resistant to adverse conditions (including high The spore cytoplasm is dehydrated and contains calcium dipicolinate (dipicolinic acid - figur resistance of the spore. Spores are commonly found in the genera Bacillus and Clostridium.

Figure 7 A
MicrobeLibrary

Bacillus cereus spores (green) and cells not forming spores (pink) Ralph Van Dyke Jr. The Des Moines University Osteop

B
Donald Stahly, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa and The MicrobeLibrary

P. larvae sporulation in culture appears similar to that of other endospore formers. The rod-shaped v layer.

C
Iowa City, Iowa and The MicrobeLibrary

An immature spore is shown surrounded by the mother cell (sporangium). A copy of the bacterial D spore. The outer spore coat appears thinner and less electron dense than in the mature spores. Dona

D
Donald Stahly, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa and The MicrobeLibrary

The thick spore coat indicates that endospore differentiation is complete, but the endospore remains endospore is released from the sporangium. The inner spore coat consists of a maximum of seven di

Figure 8. Dipicolinic acid Return to the Bacteriology Section of Microbiology and Immunology On-line

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