endospore

Question 1

what is an endospore

Answer 1

a form of specialized resting cell

Question 2

where are endospores found (what type of organism)

Answer 2

gram positive bacteria (ie ones in the soil)

Question 3

T or F: endospores are found in gram negative bacteria only

Answer 3

false; gram positive bacteria only

Question 4

when does an endospore form

Answer 4

when conditions become unfavourable to the bacteria

Question 5

T or F: the endospore is a very resistant structure

Answer 5

true

Question 6

list some conditions that may cause an endospore to form

Answer 6

extreme heat, lack of water, toxic chemicals, radiation

Question 7

what staining procedure do we do to view an endospore

Answer 7

shaeffer-fulton procedure (ie endospore stain)

Question 8

what dyes do we use in an endospore stain

Answer 8

malachite green and safranin

Question 9

what special thing do we need to do during an endospore stain

Answer 9

use steam!

Question 10

describe the color results of the endospore stain

Answer 10

endospore = green, cytoplasm = red

Question 11

what would happen if we did simple staining on an endospore

Answer 11

it would be clear and wouldn’t retain the dye

Question 12

describe the 4 different locations that an endospore can be located within the cell

Answer 12

centrally, subterminally, terminally, or terminally w/ a swollen end

Question 13

what is the innermost part of the endospore

Answer 13

the core

Question 14

what does the core of the endospore contain (that aren’t the special elements)

Answer 14

nucleoid, ribosomes, and other essential elements

Question 15

what two special elements does the core contain

Answer 15

dipicolinic acid complexed with Ca2+, and small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs)

Question 16

describe the function of dipicolinic acid

Answer 16

binds to water and helps to dehydrate the endospore. It also complexes with DNA and stabilizes it against heat denaturation

Question 17

describe the function of small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs)

Answer 17

binds DNA and protects against UV radiation, dessication, and dry heat. It also serves as a carbon and energy source during the “outgrowth stage”

Question 18

what surrounds the core

Answer 18

inner membrane

Question 19

what surrounds the inner membrane

Answer 19

germ cell wall

Question 20

what is the germ cell wall of the endospore made of

Answer 20

peptidoglycan

Question 21

what surrounds the cell wall

Answer 21

the cortex

Question 22

what is the cortex made up of

Answer 22

peptidoglycan

Question 23

what surrounds the cortex

Answer 23

outer membrane

Question 24

what surrounds the outer membrane

Answer 24

spore coat

Question 25

what is the spore coat made up of

Answer 25

many different proteins

Question 26

what surrounds the coat

Answer 26

the exosporium

Question 27

what is the exosporium made up of

Answer 27

a thin layer of protein

Question 28

T or F: all spores contain an exosporium

Answer 28

false; not all spores have it

Question 29

what cell does the endospore form within

Answer 29

the mother cell/vegetative cell

Question 30

what is another name for the mother cell

Answer 30

sporangium

Question 31

how long does endospore formation take

Answer 31

8-10 hours

Question 32

what is the name for endospore formation

Answer 32

sporulation or sporogenesis

Question 33

sporulation step 1

Answer 33

chromosome replicates, PM starts to invaginate and isolate the new DNA + small portion of cytoplasm

Question 34

sporulation step 2

Answer 34

PM starts to surround DNA, cytoplasm, and membrane that was isolated in step 1

Question 35

sporulation step 3

Answer 35

immature endospore is now surrounded by 2 membranes

Question 36

sporulation step 4

Answer 36

peptidoglycan layer forms between the membranes

Question 37

sporulation step 5

Answer 37

spore coat forms around the outer membrane, endospore is now fully mature. Lytic enzymes are released that break down cell wall of the mother cell and the PM breaks open

Question 38

sporulation step 6

Answer 38

endospore is freed from the mother cell, and now it is called a spore

Question 39

what do we call an endospore once it's freed from the mother cell

Answer 39

a spore

Question 40

what is germination

Answer 40

the process in which an endospore returns to its vegetative state

Question 41

T or F: an endospore carried out metabolic reactions

Answer 41

false; it doesn't carry out any metabolic reactions

Question 42

T or F: an endospore may remain dormant for thousands of years

Answer 42

true

Question 43

how long might an endospore remain dormant for

Answer 43

thousands of years

Question 44

name the 3 stages of germination

Answer 44

activation, germination, outgrowth

Question 45

describe activation of germination

Answer 45

heat treatment occurs which prepares the spore for the next step

Question 46

describe germination

Answer 46

endospore's dormant stage is broken and dipicolinic aicd-Ca is released from the DNA. peptidoglycan in the cortex is broken down, leaving only the peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Water moves into the core. Metabolic reactions now occur

Question 47

describe outgrowth of germination

Answer 47

cell breaks free from the broken spore and begins to grow, and now we have a bacterium being released

Question 48

T or F: endospore production is used for reproductive purposes

Answer 48

false; sporulation is NOT reproduction

Question 49

explain why sporulation is not the same as reproduction

Answer 49

we started with one bacterium, it made an endospore, endospore stayed dormant, and when conditions become good it become a bacteria again via germination. No new bacteria is being made