10/18/2010

1
The Functional Anatomy of
Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells
Outline
To introduce the major structural features of
prokaryotic cells:
shape and size
the cell membrane and cell wall
appendages
genetic material
other inclusions in the cytoplasm.
The prokaryotic cell
10/18/2010
2
Spherical (coccus) Rod (bacillus)
spirochete Pleomorphic (multiple shapes)
Being small has its advantages
10/18/2010
3
Prokaryotic Structure:
1. The outer envelope
2. Flagella
3. Genetic Information
4. Intracellular Structures
The Outer Envelope
The Plasma Membrane
10/18/2010
4
The Cell Wall
Cell Wall Protects Bacteria from the
Affects of Osmosis
Cell Wall Protects Bacteria from the
Affects of Osmosis
10/18/2010
5
The Cell Wall - Structure
G = N-acetylgluosamine M = N-aceylmuramic acid
(sugar derivatives, i.e. glycans)
The Cell Wall - Structure
Peptidoglycan sheet structure
Glycan backbone
Pepide cross-links
15
10/18/2010
6
16
Archaea have cell walls made of
materials other than peptodiglycan, if
they have them at all.
pseudopeptidoglycan
polysaccharides
glycoproteins
proteins
The Cell Wall - Structure
The Cell Wall - Structure
the paracrystaline surface layer (S-layer)
10/18/2010
7
The cell wall is clinically important because:
1. It is a barrier contributes to the ability of some
species to cause disease
Action of some antibiotics is on the cell wall (e.g.
penicillin).
3. Chemical composition of the cell wall is used to
differentiate the major types of bacteria
The Cell Wall
The Outer Envelope:
The outer membrane of gram negative bacteria
A second phospholipid membrane
relatively permeable due to porins
Contains not only protein and
phospholipids, but also a large
quantity of polysaccharides
Lipids and polysaccharides are linked
to form lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
The Outer Envelope Glycocalyx
(Capsule / Slime layer)
Ususally composed of
polysaccharides (sugars), but
sometimes protein or both.
Chemical composition varies
widely between prokaryotes
Structured and firmly attached = capsule.
Unorganized and only loosely attached = referred
to as a slime layer
10/18/2010
8
Capsules may contribute to bacterial virulence:
by protecting the bacteria from being recognized and
phagocytosed by the immune cells of the host
by serving to attach the bacteria to tissue surfaces
Also allow attachment to other surfaces in nature
formation of biofilms
Help prevent water loss and desiccation
The Outer Envelope Glycocalyx
(Capsule / Slime layer)
Bacterial Appendages
Flagella - motility
Fimbriae - attachment to surfaces
Pili - genetic conjugation
Bacterial Appendages
Flagella - motility
Fimbriae - attachment to surfaces
Pili - genetic conjugation
10/18/2010
9
Flagella
Some prokaryotes have flagella, which are long,
helical, filamentous appendage that provide
motility for the prokaryote
Motility
Advantage of motility is that it provides bacteria
with a means to move toward a favorable
environment or away from a hostile environment
when bacteria move in one direction for a period of
time, it is referred to as a run or swim
runs often end abruptly in tumbles which are
random changes in direction
tumbles are the result of a reversal of flagella
rotation
then a run resumes
Motility
10/18/2010
10
Taxis
Movement of bacteria towards a stimulus is termed taxis:
chemotaxis move towards a chemical
phototaxis move towards light
Flagella are composed of 3 parts:
1) Filament - flagellin protein
2) Hook
3) Basal Body (motor)
Flagellum Motor (the basal body)
10/18/2010
11
Genetic Information: The
Nucleoid Region
The nucleoid region contains the single,
circular, double-stranded bacterial
chromosome
The chromosome is not surrounded by a
nuclear envelope
The chromosome is attached to the
plasma membrane
Plasmids
Plasmids are small circular, double-stranded
molecules
Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA elements and
typically encode between 5 and 100 genes that are not
crucial for survival
Under certain conditions, plasmids can be
advantageous for survival by encoding genes involved
in antibiotic resistance, tolerance to toxic metals,
production of toxins, and synthesis of enzymes
Intracellular Structures
Inclusions
Metachromatic Granules (polyphosphate)
inorganic phosphate
Polysaccharide Granules
consist of glycogen & starch
Lipid Inclusions - acidic carbon chains (fatty acids)
Sulfur Granules sulfur metabolism byproduct
10/18/2010
12
Intracellular Structures
Inclusions
Carboxysomes contain the enzyme ribulose 1,5-
diphosphate carboyxlase which allow prokaryotes
to use CO
2
as the sole carbon source
Gas Vacuoles found in aquatic prokaryotes, aid in
buoyancy
Magnetosomes inclusions of iron oxide which act
like magnets
Eukaryotic cell structure vs.
prokaryotic structure
Eukaryotic Cells -
compare and contrast
Eukaryotes differ from prokaryotes in the following
ways:
DNA is found in the nucleus
DNA is associated with histones and nonhistone
proteins
membrane-enclosed organelles
cell wall when present is chemically simple
usually divide by mitosis
10/18/2010
13
Cell Wall & Glycocalyx
Most eukaryotes have a cell wall although it is
typically much simpler than in prokaryotic cells
1. Do not contain peptidoglycan
2. Plants and algae - cellulose
2. Fungi - sometimes cellulose or chitin
3. Yeasts - glucan and mannan (polysaccharides)
3. Animal cells - glycoproteins & glycolipids
Plasma Membrane
The plasma membranes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes
are similar. One important difference is that
eukaryotic cells can actively internalize extracellular
material by endocytosis and
expel it by exocytosis.
During endocytosis, the plasma
membrane surrounds an
extracellular molecule and
internalizes it in a vesicle.
Flagella & Cilia
10/18/2010
14
Flagella & cilia are anchored to the plasma membrane
by the basal body
Microtubules are arranged in a 9+2 structure
Flagella & Cilia
QuickTi meand a
TIFF (Uncompr essed) decompressor
are needed to see thi s picture.
Eukaryotic Cilia & Flagella
Move in a Wave-like Manner
Genetic Information
In eukaryotic cells, genetic information is stored in
the cell nucleus complexed with proteins called
histones & nonhistone proteins
The nucleus is the largest organelle in the cell and
is surrounded by a double membrane called the
nuclear envelope
Within the nucleus is one or more spherical bodies
called nucleoli. The nucleolus is the site of
ribosomal RNA synthesis
10/18/2010
15
http://www.steve.gb.com/science/nucleic_acids.html
chromatin =
DNA + proteins
Intracellular Structures
Within eukaryotic cells, there are a variety of
organelles that have specific shapes and specialized
functions.
Eukaryotic organelles include:
1. Nucleus
2. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
3. Golgi complex
4. Lysosomes
Vacuoles
Mitochondria
Chloroplasts
Peroxisomes
Centrosomes