characteristics of prokaryotes
characteristics of eukaryotes
similar feature in prokaryote and eukaryote cell structure
they “typical” prokaryotic cell
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
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
cell membrane
proton motive force
electrochemical gradient of protons drives ATP synthesis from ADP at the F1F0-ATP synthase
membrane phospholipids
saturated side chains of phospholipids
unsaturated side chains of phospholipids
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