Prokaryotic cells Flashcards
peptidoglycan
a large, net-like molecule found in all bacterial cell walls made up of many parallel polysaccharide chains with short peptide cross-linkages
capsule
a layer formed from starch, gelatin, protein or glycolipid , found around the outside of some bacteria
pili
thread-like protein structures found on the surface of some bacteria
bacteriophage
virus that attacks bacteria
flagella
many stranded helices of the contractile protein flagellin found on some bacteria; they move the bacteria by rapid rotations
mesosomes
infoldings of the cell membrane of bacteria
nucleoid
the area in a bacterium containing the single circular loop of coiled DNA
plasmids
small circular pieces of DNA that code for specific aspects of the bacterial phenotype
Gram staining
a staining technique used to distinguish types of bacteria by their cell wall
Gram-positive bacteria
bacteria that contain teichoic acid in their cell walls and stain purple/blue with Gram staining
Teichoic acid
a chemical substance found in the cell walls of Gram positive bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria
bacteria that have no teichoic acid in their cell walls; they stain red with Gram staining
cocci
spherical bacteria
bacilli
rod-shaped bacteria
sprilla
bacteria with a twisted or spiral shape
