Chapter 4

Procaryotic Profiles: The Bacteria and Archaea

Chapter Summary

The student will be introduced to the specific structure of the procaryotic cell. The internal
organization and physiology are generally discussed, and presented in diagram format. The motility,
conjugation, cell envelope, cell wall, cell membrane, mesosome, protoplasm, and internal structures are
presented.
The text clearly describes the differences between the gram positive cell wall and the gram negative
cell wall, and their comparative responses to the Gram Stain procedure.
The bacterial shapes, arrangements and classification systems are stressed. The methods used in this
bacterial identification method are examined.
The chapter ends with a discussion of unusual bacteria, some medically important, others just
unusual.

Chapter Outline

I. Procaryotic Form and Function: External Structure

II. The structure of a Generalized Procaryotic Cell: mainly refers to bacteria
A. Appendages: Cell Extensions
1. Flagella - Bacterial Propellers
a. Monotrichous, lophotrichous, amphitrichous, peritrichous
2. Fine Points of Flagellar Function
a. Chemotaxis
b. Runs and tumbles
3. Periplasmic flagella (axial filaments): Internal Flagella
4. Appendages for Attachment and Mating
a. Fimbria
b. Pilus: conjugation
B. The Cell Envelope: The Outer Wrapping of Bacteria
1. The Bacterial Surface Coating, or Glycocalyx
a. Slime layer and capsules
2. Specialized functions of the Glycocalyx
C. Structure of the Cell Wall
a. Peptidoglycan
1. Differences in Cell Wall Structure
a. The Gram-Positive Cell Wall
b. The Gram-Negative Cell Wall
c. Practical Considerations of Differences in Cell Wall Structure
d. Non-typical cell walls
i. Mycobacterium and Nocardia and acid-fast stain
ii. L forms (Lister variants)
iii. Protoplasts
iv. Spheroplast
D. Cell Membrane Structure
a. cytoplasmic membrane
b. Mesosome
1. Functions of the Cell Membrane and Mesosomes
III. Bacterial Form and Function: Internal Structure
A. Contents of the cell cytoplasm

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 1. Bacterial chromosomes and plasmids: the sources of genetic information
a. Nucleoid
b. Plasmids
2. Ribosomes: Sites of Protein Synthesis
3. Inclusions, or granules: Storage Bodies
a. Inclusion bodies
b. Metachromatic granules
B. Bacterial Endospores: An extremely resistant stage
1. Endospore Formation and Resistance
2. The Germination of Endospores
3. Medical Significance of Bacterial Spores
IV. Bacterial Shapes, Arrangements, and Sizes
A. Shapes
1. Coccus
2. Bacillus
3. Curved forms – spirochete, vibrio, spirilla
4. Coccobacillus
5. Pleomorphism
B. Arrangement
1. Single
2. Diplococci
3. Tetrads
4. Irregular clusters: staphylococci
5. Chains: streptococci
6. Packets: sarcina
7. Palisades
V. Bacterial Identification and Classification Systems
A. Methods Used in Bacterial Identification
1. Microscopic Morphology
2. Macroscopic Morphology
3. Physiological/Biochemical Characteristics
4. Chemical Analysis
5. Serological Analysis
6. Genetic and Molecular Analysis
a. G + C Base Composition
b. DNA Analysis Using Genetic Probes
c. Nucleic Acid Sequencing and rRNA Analysis
B. Classification Systems in the Procaryotae
1. Taxonomic - Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology
a. Gracilicutes
b. Firmicutes
c. Tenericutes
d. Mendosicutes
2. Ribosomal RNA
3. Diagnostic
4. Species and Subspecies in Bacteria: strains and types
VI. Survey of Procaryotic Groups with Unusual Characteristics
A. Unusual Forms of Medically Significant Bacteria: obligate intracellular parasites
1. Rickettsias
2. Chlamydias
3. Mycoplasmas and Other Cell-Wall-Deficient Bacteria
B. Free Living Nonpathogenic Bacteria

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 1. Photosynthetic Bacteria
2. Cyanobacteria: Blue Green Bacteria
a. Thylakoids
b. Phycocyanin
3. Green and Purple Sulfur Bacteria: Gliding, Fruiting Bacteria
4. Appendaged Bacteria
C. Archaea: the other procaryotes

Key Terms and Phrases

eubacteria Gram's Iodine vibrio

appendage Safranin spirillum
motility periplasmic space spirochete
attachments protoplast pleomorphism
flagella spheroplast diplococci
axial filaments mesosome staphylococci
fimbriae cytoplasmic membrane micrococci
pili transport streptococci
monotrichous chromatin bodies/plasmids palisades
lophotrichous chromatin Bergey's Manual
amphitrichous nucleoid Gracilicutes
peritrichous ribosome Firmicutes
chemotaxis ribose Tenericutes
spirochete inclusions Mendosicutes
conjugation metachromatic aerobic
cell envelope endospores anaerobic
glycocalyx refractility thylakoid
encapsulated sporangium phycocyanin
peptidoglycan dipicolinic acid cyanobacteria
lysis vegetative cycle myxobacteria
Gram Stain rod or bacillus Archaebacteria
Crystal Violet coccus

Topics for Discussion

Students may learn best by drawing a procaryotic cell and labeling all the internal structures and
areas. The cell wall structure is clearly demonstrated by diagram and then gram staining in the laboratory.
The classification of bacteria is confusing to the beginning student. A suggestion would be to use various
bacteria in the lab and the Bergey's Manual for complete identification.

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