BioMi2900

Activity 1
Cell Wall Structures and Antibiotic Action Review

Learning objectives of this small group discussion

After completing the small groups, students should be able to
Name 3-4 other peers in the class and at least one instructor associated with
the 2900 course
Discuss microbiology concepts with their peers and their instructor
Explain how bacterial cell envelope structure influences antibiotic activity
(intrinsic vs. acquired resistance)

PART I
1) Look at the diagrams on the next page of 3 different prokaryotic cell envelopes.
Determine which figure shows a Gram (+), a Proteobacterial or Gram (-), and an
Archaeal cell envelope.

2) Label the components of each cell envelope using the list below.
(Note: not all cells have all the structures listed)

cell wall lipoteichoic acid

cytoplasmic membrane periplasmic space
integral membrane protein porin
outer membrane teichoic acid
lipopolysaccharide peripheral membrane protein

3) Answer the following questions:

a) Which structure is the true permeability barrier? What would happen to the
cell if you made the permeability barrier leaky?

b) For each cell type, which structure provides support and shape? What would
happen to the cell if you destroyed this structure?

c) Which structure only allows hydrophilic small molecules (< 600 daltons mol
wt) through? Where are these found? Which organisms have them?
BioMi2900

d) What happens if you treat a bacterial cell with lysozyme under isotonic
conditions? Cell wall type ______________
outside cell

protein
"S-layer"

cytoplasmic
membrane

inside cell
Inside cell
inside cell
Cell wall type ____________
outside cell

peptidoglycan
layer

cytoplasmic
membrane Inside cell
inside cell

Cell wall type ______________

outside cell

peptidoglycan
BioMi2900

cytoplasmic
membrane

Inside cell
inside cell