First Half Flashcards
(205 cards)
characteristics of prokaryotes
- small
- no membrane- bound organelles
- 1-2 circular chromosomes
- divide by binary fission
- 70S ribosomes
- complex cell walls
- rudimentary cytoskeleton
- simple appendages
characteristics of eukaryotes
- larger
- membrane-bound organelles
- multiple linear DNA with histones
- divide by mitosis
- 80S ribosomes
- simple cell walls (when present)
- complex cytoskeleton
- complex appendages
similar feature in prokaryote and eukaryote cell structure
- cytoplasm
- DNA
- cell division
- ribosomes
- cell wall
- cytoskeleton of some form
they “typical” prokaryotic cell
- cytoplasm is a gel-like network
- 70S ribosomes and NO mitochondria
- nucleoid contains the bacterial chromosome
- have 1 or several plasmids present
- thick/complex cell wall
- motile bacteria have flagellum
what are Pili
small hairlike protein filaments used for motility, attachmet and exchange of genetic material
- pathogens use them to attach to and hosts so they can invade
- sex pili: transfer DNA during conjugation from donor to recipient
what are stalks
extensions of the cell envelope and cytoplasm
- secrete adhesion factors to form “holdfast” to attach bacterium in envelope
- allows formation of biofilms in water streams
what are flagella
helical bacterial “tails” used for motility
- not all bacteria have them
- arrangements allows them for swimming the direction they need to go
- can use formation to tell microbes apart
what is the nucleoid
contains most prokaryotic genetic material, not membrane bound
- 1-2 chromosomes, typically haploid
- DNA is packaged into supercoiled domains by NAPs
- may also contain extrachromosomal DNA that is found in plasmids
what are plasmids
are extra-chromosomal DNA elements typically not required for “everyday” survival, replicate autonomously
- smaller than chromosomes
- circular double stranded DNA
horizontal gene transfer
transfer of genetic material between organisms, outside of traditional reproduction
- exclusive to prokaryotes
types of horizontal gene transfer
- transformation
- transduction
- conjugation
vertical gene transfer
transmission of genes from the parental generation to the offspring by asexual reproduction
- e.g. binary fission
transformation
allows cell to uptake DNA from the environment
transduction
allows DNA to transfer through bacteriophages that infect bacteria
conjugation
allows bacteria to directly transfer DNA between cells via pili
prokaryotic ribosomes
- made up of a large and small subunit
- smaller weight than eukaryotes (70S vs 80S)
cell membrane
- anchor site for proteins
- selectively facilitates transport in and out of the cell
- site for proton motive force for energy conversion (ATP synthesis)
proton motive force
electrochemical gradient of protons drives ATP synthesis from ADP at the F1F0-ATP synthase
membrane phospholipids
- prevent free movement of polar or charged molecules across the membrane
- amphipathic
- vary in their head groups and fatty acid side chains
saturated side chains of phospholipids
- only single bonds
- melt at higher temp, increase order/rigidity
- Better for organisms in warm environments
unsaturated side chains of phospholipids
- contains one or more double bonds
- melt at lower temp, increase fluidity
- Bette for organisms in cold environments
membranes also include planar molecules that fill gaps between hydrocarbon chains…
help control membrane structure
- in eukaryotes = sterols
- in bacteria = hopanoids
- in other prokaryotes they are a mix of these different membrane lipids and hopanoid
bacterial vs. Archaea membrane
lipid tail:
Bacteria = straight chains of fatty acid without branches
archaea = long, branched isoprene chains with a methyl side chain every 4 carbons
Bond that joins lipid tail to glycerol:
Bacteria = glycerol-ester-lipids
Archaea = glycerol-ether-lipids
- enantiomers of each other
- archaea can be monolayer or bilayer
types of membrane proteins
- membrane-spanning proteins (integral)
- Membrane-anchored proteins
- Peripheral membrane proteins