Prokaryotic Cell Structure

The Prokaryotic Cell

Major Structures Cytoplasmic membrane Cell wall Cytoplasm Inclusions Nucleoid Glycocalyx Flagella Pili & fimbrae Endospores

The Cytoplasmic Membrane

Overview
~ 8 nm thick Completely surround the cell Establishes the integrity of the cell Selective barrier Contains integral membrane proteins Highly ordered yet relatively fluid (fluid mosaic)

Cytoplasmic Membrane
The Phospholipid Bilayer

Cytoplasmic Membrane
Unit Membranes

Ectothiorhodospira halochloris photosynthetic membrane stacks

The Cytoplasmic Membrane

Structure

The Cytoplasmic Membrane

Function

The Cell Wall of Prokaryotes

Provides shape, rigidity Keeps bacterial cells from lysing due to internal turgor pressure Two major types
Gram-negative: multilayered, complex Gram-positive: single layer, thicker

Cell Walls of Bacteria

The Gram-Positive Cell Wall

The Cell Wall of Prokaryotes

The Gram-Negative Outer Membrane
A second lipid layer Contains polysaccharide and protein Lipid and polysaccharide linked to form lipopolysaccharides Often called the lipopolysaccharide layer or LPS. Lipid A = endotoxin

The Gram-Negative Cell Wall

Arrangement of DNA in Prokaryotes

Bacterial chromosome usually a single circular molecule Nucleoid Plasmids: small, circular, extrachromosomal DNA Chromosome copy number

The E. coli Nucleoid

Bacterial Flagella
Long, thin appendages free at one end and attached to the cell at the other end. ~ 20 nm in diameter Flagellar arrangement
Polar Lophotrichous Perithrichous

Peritrichous

Polar

Lophotrichous

Flagellin: protein subunit of flagella

Flagellar Arrangements

Structure of the Prokaryotic Flagellum

Bacterial Cell Surface Structures

Fimbriae & Pili

Both structurally similar to flagella but not involved in movement Fimbriae Much shorter than flagella Inherited trait Enable cell to adhere to surfaces, form pellicles or biofilms

Bacterial Cell Surface Structres

Fimbriae & Pili

Pili
Similar structurally to fimbriae but longer Only one or two per cell Serve as receptors for certain viruses Involved in the process of conjugation Involved in attachment of certain pathogenic bacteria to tissues

Fimbrae & Pili

E. coli Pilus

Bacterial Cell Surface Structures

Capsules & Slime Layers Glycocalyx: the polysaccharide material lying outside the cell
Capsule: a rigid, tight matrix that can exclude particles Slime layer: easily deformed, does not exclude particles, hard to see

Functions
Attachment of pathogens Protection from phagocytosis Resistance to desiccation

Bacterial Capsules

Acinetobacter sp. (negative stain)

Rhizobium trifoli

Bacterial Cell Inclusions

Granules within cells Function
Storage of energy compounds Source of structural building blocks

Carbon/energy storage compounds

Glycogen Poly--hydroxybutyric acid (PHB)

Endospores
Differentiated cells formed within the vegetative cell (sporangium) Highly resistant to heat, drying, radiation, acids, chemical disinfectants Bacillus, Clostridium Dormancy maintained for long periods