Cell Structure and Function

of Prokaryotes

Division of Microbiology
Department of Biology FMIPA IPB
Prokaryotic Cells
Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound
nucleus.
-genetic material is present in the nucleoid

Two types of prokaryotes:

-archaea
-bacteria

2
Prokaryotic Cells
Prokaryotic cells possess
-genetic material in the nucleoid
-cytoplasm
-plasma membrane
-cell wall
-ribosomes
-no membrane-bound organelles

3
Prokaryotes:
Have no nucleus; genome is circular

No histones

No membrane-bound organelles

Cell wall usually contains peptidoglycan (cell

walls are more complex)

Divide by binary fission

 Typical shapes of bacteria

Most bacteria retain a particular shape; a few

are pleiomorphic
Typical prokaryotic structures
Extracellular components

Protection
dehydration
immune mechanisms
Attachment

Glycocalyx- polysaccharide, protein

capsule if organized
slime layer if not

May contribute to virulence

Flagella
Some bacteria are motile (due to flagella)

Bacteria vary in the way flagella are attached

How they move: running, tumbling, swarming

Can move toward or away from light or

chemical stimuli

Flagellin protein is unique to prokaryotes

Flagella
10
Flagella

H+
Pili
Pili- attachment; motility; conjugation
Fimbriae
Cell membrane
Cell membrane structure is similar in structure
and function to that of eukaryotes

Phospholipid bilayer
(everything moves through it, since there
are no organelles)

carrier proteins

generally involve proton motive force (i.e,

require energy and moving against the
concentration gradient)
Cell membrane
Membrane Function
Types of
Transport
Kind of substances transported and type of
transport
Translokasi grup: substansi yang ditranspor
mengalami perubahan kimiawi
Cell wall
Cell wall- hallmark of prokaryotes

Their reaction with Gram stain allows bacteria

to be divided into two groups (+ and -)

Positive-lots of peptidoglycan

Negative- thin layer, with an outer membrane

and periplasmic space in between
Many secreted proteins are found here
Gram staining
Structure of peptidoglycan
Gram-positive cell wall
Gram-negative cell wall
Outer membrane is made of lipopolysaccharide
(LPS)

Porins allow molecules to pass through outer

membrane

LPS is protective
lipid A- strong inflammatory response
(endotoxin)
O-linked polysaccharide- antigenic
Significance of Gram-positive vs Gram-negative
antibiotic sensitivity

sensitivity to lysozyme

Mycoplasma do not have a cell wall

Lots of variety in archaea- but none have

peptidoglycan
Mode of action of Penisilin and Lysozyme

Penisillin

Ly
so
zy
m
e

S-layer
Internal components
Nucleoid- with single, circular, supercoiled
DNA molecule

Many bacteria have plasmids

small, extrachromosomal, circular
piece of DNA

genes present are usually not required

but may be advantageous
(antibiotic resistance, resistance to metals)
Now used for genetic engineering
Ribosomes

Involved in protein synthesis

Prokaryotic ribosomes are smaller than

eukaryotic (70S vs 80S)
Some antibiotics bind to the 70S ribosome

How does that affect bacteria?

No membrane-bound organelles

Some have storage granules

PHB

Some aquatic bacteria have gas vesicles

Vesikel gas

Some have endospores (soil bacteria) that

enable them to lie dormant under
unfavorable conditions
 Endospora
Endospora adalah sel yang berdiferensiasi dan
sangat resisten terhadap panas.
Struktur spora lebih kompleks dari sel vegetatif
dan
terdiri atas:
1. Lapisan luar yang disebut exosporium, tipis terdiri
atas protein.
2. Spore Coat yang terdiri atas lapisan-lapisan protein
spora spesifik (SASP= small acid-soluble spore
protein).
3. Corteks yang terdiri atas peptidoglikan.
4. Core/protoplas spora yang biasa mengandung
 Core mengandung substansi yang hanya ada
pada endospora yaitu asam dipikolinat yang
jumlahnya mencapai 10% dari berat kering.

Sporulasi hanya terjadi bila sel tidak tumbuh

lagi
karena kehabisan nutrien yang esensial. Pada
Bacillus proses sporulasi memerlukan waktu 8 jam.
Germinasi melibatkan proses aktivasi, germinasi
dan pertumbuhan.