Bacterial cell

Bacterial cell.

Prokaryotes include the kingdoms of Monera (simple bacteria) and Archaea. At a basic level a prokaryote is an aqueous emulsion containing biomolecules and other substances surrounded by a membrane and a cell wall. Prokaryotic cells don't possess membrane bound organelles. Of course things are never that simple in biology. At least some prokaryotes do contain intracellular structures that can be seen as primitive organelles. Intracellular membranes are known in some groups of prokaryotes, such as membrane systems devoted to special metabolic properties.

For the future doctor, prokaryotes are an important subject of study given that many infectious diseases arise from bacterial infection. In addition to an awareness of the structural features of bacterial cells, you should have a good basic sense of morphological classification in bacteria, modes of reproduction and DNA transfer, and an understanding of sociality in bacteria and patterns of interacting with the environment.

WikiPremed Resources



The Prokaryotic Cell Images
Image gallery for study with links to larger teaching JPEGs for classroom presentation

Question Drill for Prokaryotes
Conceptual Vocabulary Self-Test

Basic Terms Crossword Puzzle

Basic Puzzle Solution

Learning Goals

Proficiency 

Be able to point out the unique properties distinguishing the cells of archaea from bacteria.

Understand how prokaryotic cells differ structurally from eukaryotic cells.

Be able to describe the prokaryotic nucleoid.

Understand the basic structure of the bacterial flagellum.

Be able to distinguish the structural differences in the cell walls of gram negative and gram positive bacteria.

Be prepared to describe the steps of bacterial cell division.

Be able to name the functions of bacterial pili.

Be able to classify bacteria by shape.

Understand the processes involved in the the three modes of gene transfer in bacteria: transduction, conjugation, and transformation

Know how to use the terminology for describing the metabolism of microbial species based on how they obtain carbon for synthesis, how they obtain reducing equivalents, and how they obtain energy.

Be familiar with the language used to describe bacterial chemotaxis.

Suggested Assignments

Review terminology from the subject of prokaryotic cells using the question server. Complete the fundamental terms crossword puzzle. Here is the solution to the puzzle.

Read pp. 1-13 in ExamKrackers Biology II. Perform practice items 1-8 on pg. 14. (This section has treatments of evolution as well as viruses and bacteria).

Study the web resources on prokaryotes.

Conceptual Vocabulary for Prokaryotes

Prokaryote
Prokaryotes are a group of organisms that lack a cell nucleus, or any other membrane-bound organelles.
Nucleoid
In prokaryotes, the nucleoid (also known as the nuclear region, nuclear body or chromatin body) is an irregularly shaped region where the genetic material is localized.
Ribosome
A ribosome is a small, dense, functional structure found in most known cells that assembles proteins and polypeptides used in cell division.
Flagellum
A flagellum is a long, slender projection from the cell body, composed of microtubules and surrounded by the plasma membrane.
Cell wall
A cell wall is a fairly rigid layer surrounding a prokaryotic cell, located external to the cell membrane, which provides the cell with structural support, protection, and acts as a filtering mechanism.
Peptidoglycan
Peptidoglycan, also known as murein, is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms a mesh-like layer outside the plasma membrane of eubacteria.
Pilus
A pilus is a hairlike appendage found on the surface of many bacteria. This term and fimbria are often used interchangeably.
Flagellin
Flagellin is a protein that arranges itself in a hollow cylinder to form the filament in bacterial flagellum
Gram-positive
Gram-positive bacteria are those that retain a crystal violet dye during the Gram stain process.
Lipopolysaccharide
A lipopolysaccharide is a large molecule consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide (carbohydrate) joined by a covalent bond.
Cell envelope
The cell envelope is the cell membrane and cell wall plus an outer membrane, if one is present. Most bacterial cell envelopes fall into two major categories: Gram positive and Gram negative.
Outer membrane
The outer membrane refers to the outside membranes of Gram-negative bacteria.
Periplasmic space
The periplasmic space is the space seen between the plasma membrane and the outer membrane in the gram-negative bacteria.
Glycocalyx
Glycocalyx is a general term referring to extracellular polymeric material produced by some bacteria, epithelia and other cells.
Carboxysome
The carboxysome is a bacterial microcompartment, roughly 90-500 nm in diameter, made up of a protein shell, that contains enzymes involved in carbon fixation reactions.
Fimbria
A fimbria is a proteinaceous appendage in many gram-negative bacteria that is thinner and shorter than a flagellum.
Genophore
A genophore is the DNA of a prokaryote.
S-layer
A S-layer (surface layer) is a part of the cell envelope commonly found in bacteria, as well as among archaea. It consists of a monomolecular layer composed of identical proteins or glycoproteins.
Endotoxin
Endotoxins are potentially toxic, natural compounds found inside pathogens such as bacteria, released mainly when bacteria are lysed.
Advanced terms that may appear in context in MCAT passages
Teichoic acid
Teichoic acids are polymers of glycerol or ribitol linked via phosphodiester bonds. These acids can be found in the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria and appear to extend to the surface of the peptidoglycan layer.
Lipoteichoic acid
Lipoteichoic acid is a surface-associated adhesion amphiphile from Gram-positive bacteria and regulator of autolytic wall enzymes (muramidases).
FtsZ
FtsZ is a protein that assembles into a ring at the future site of the septum of bacterial cell division. Named after filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z, is a prokaryotic homologue to the eukaryotic protein tubulin.
MreB
MreB is a protein found in bacteria that has been identified as a homologue of actin, as indicated by similarities in tertiary structure and conservation of active site peptide sequence.
Chlorosome
A chlorosome is a photosynthetic antenna complex found in green sulfur bacteria and some green filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs.












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