Unit 2 Flashcards
(218 cards)
Why does DNA replication, transcription and translation in bacteria provide targets for antibiotics?
Because even though the process is relatively the same, different enzymes are responsible
What are three ways in which bacteria can be naturally resistant? Only a few types of bacteria are naturally resistant.
- mycolic acid
- drug efflux pumps
- secretion of toxins and antitoxins (so that they aren’t harmed by their own toxins)
How can bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
mutations can occur in their genes
Beneficial mutations (like antibiotic resistance) are _____ times less common than detrimental mutations
100
What are three ways by which the problem of antibiotic resistance has reached its current scale?
- binary fission
- natural selection
- gene transfer
What are two ways in which natural selection is promoted in bacteria?
- overuse of antibiotics in humans
2. use of antibiotics in animal feed
Is gene transfer among bacteria rare?
No, it is rampant
What is transposase?
an enzyme that allows for the splicing in and out of a bacterial chromosome
What is an F plasmid?
A fertility plasmid, it causes the bacteria to sprout pili and it promotes conjugation
What is conjugation?
Both the donor and the recipient are alive. Hollow pili (sex) mediate attachment and a copy of the F plasmid is made and sent through the pili to the recipient.
Does conjugation occur during DNA replication?
Yes
How long does it take for conjugation to occur?
10 min
What is transduction?
The process by which a donor cell with an AB resistant gene is infected with a virus that splices into and out of the chromosome taking the AB resistant gene with it. The virus will eventually cause the cell to lyse. The viral DNA will be released and can splice into another cells chromosome giving them the AB resistant gene
How do viruses avoid exonucleases if they are linear segments of DNA?
They fold their ends in order to appear circular.
In transformation how are other bacteria aware of the fact that the bacteria has died?
The ATP spilled out with the rest of its contents acts as a signal to let them know that genes are available
How do the live bacteria “pick up” the lysed cells genes?
- secrete autolysin (which creates holes in their cell membrane)
- secrete endonuclease which cut up the chromosome
- They insert a DNA binding protein into their plasma membrane
- They express an eclipse complex (like carrier proteins)
What is an operon?
gene sequences that are found together and code for a protein that can be turned on or off
What is a repressor? What does it do?
It is a protein that attaches to operator sequences in order to stop the synthesis of certain proteins/products
Inducible operons
default off, nutrient attaches to repressor to turn it on, when the enzyme is needed to act on this nutrient. break things down
Repressible operons
default on, when there is nutrient available and it doesn’t need to be synthesized a repressor will bind to turn these off. synthesize things
Constitutive operons
Always on, because they are for things that the cell will always need
What would be a good way to regulate constitutive operons?
Antibiotic could fit and act as a repressor
Are fungi procaryotic or eucaryotic?
They are eucaryotic
What intracellular components make up fungi?
true nucleus, numerous organelles, cell wall, and ergosterol in PM