Microbial Cell Structure and Function
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1
What does prokaryote literally mean?
Primitive nucleus; prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus.
2
What does eukaryote literally mean?
True nucleus; eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus.
3
What are the two prokaryotic domains?
Bacteria and Archaea.
4
Which microorganisms are examples of eukaryotes?
Fungi, algae, and protozoa.
5
What is the main structural difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotes generally lack membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes have them.
6
What does compartmentalization mean in a cell?
The organization of the cell into separate membrane-bound compartments.
7
Do prokaryotes generally have membrane-bound organelles?
No.
8
Do eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles?
Yes, including the nucleus and mitochondria.
9
What are two common bacterial shapes?
Spherical (cocci) and rod-shaped (bacilli).
10
How are streptococci arranged?
In chains of spherical cells.
11
How are staphylococci arranged?
In clusters of spherical cells.
12
What shape are E. coli cells?
Rod-shaped.
13
What are cyanobacteria?
Photosynthetic prokaryotes.
14
What is a heterocyst in some cyanobacteria?
A specialized cell that fixes nitrogen gas and converts it into ammonia.
15
What do vegetative cells in cyanobacterial filaments do?
Carry out the regular functions of the filament and use nitrogen supplied by heterocysts.
16
What are akinetes?
Dormant cells that can later germinate and begin growing.
17
What does the cyanobacteria example demonstrate about prokaryotes?
Some prokaryotes can have developmental complexity and specialized cell types.
18
What are diatoms?
A type of eukaryotic alga.
19
What material forms the shells of diatoms?
Silica.
20
What is the fluid mosaic model?
A model describing the plasma membrane as a phospholipid bilayer with associated and embedded proteins.
21
What is the main function of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane in ATP production?
It is the site of the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.
22
Why does bacterial respiration occur at the cytoplasmic membrane?
Bacteria do not have mitochondria.
23
What are two transport roles of the cytoplasmic membrane?
It brings nutrients into the cell and helps remove waste.
24
How can the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane help segregate DNA?
Bacterial chromosomes can attach to the membrane and move apart as the cell grows and divides.
25
What is one major function of the bacterial cell wall?
Protecting the cell from osmotic stress.
26
How does the cell wall help protect bacteria from osmotic stress?
Its rigid structure helps prevent the cell from bursting when water enters.
27
What other function does the bacterial cell wall provide?
It helps maintain the cell's shape.
28
How can the cell wall help bacteria attach?
It can contribute to attachment to other cells or surfaces.
29
Why are bacterial cell walls useful antibiotic targets?
Animal cells lack cell walls, allowing drugs to target bacterial walls selectively.
30
What is peptidoglycan?
A structural polymer that forms the cell wall of most bacteria.
31
What two sugars make up the repeating units of peptidoglycan?
N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM).
32
What does NAG stand for?
N-acetylglucosamine.
33
What does NAM stand for?
N-acetylmuramic acid.
34
Do you need to memorize the exact chemical structures of NAG and NAM from this lecture?
No; the instructor emphasized knowing their full names and being able to distinguish them.
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