Unit 1
THE PROKARYOTIC CELL
(THE DOMAIN BACTERIA)
There are 5 basic groups of microbes
a. bacteria
b. fungi: yeasts and molds
c. viruses
d. protozoa
e. algae
CELLULAR ORGANIZATION:
PROKARYOTIC AND
EUKARYOTIC CELLS
The cell is the basic unit of life. Based on the
organization of their cellular structures, all
living cells can be divided into two groups:
prokaryotic and eukaryotic
Animals, plants, fungi, protozoans, and algae
all possess eukaryotic cell types. Only
bacteria have prokaryotic cell types
Prokaryotic cells are generally much smaller
and more simple than eukaryotic. Prokaryotic
cells are, in fact, able to be structurally more
simple because of their small size. The
smaller a cell, the greater is its surface-to-
volume ratio (the surface area of a cell
compared to its volume).
A large surface-to-volume ratio, as seen in
smaller prokaryotic cells, means that
nutrients can easily and rapidly reach any
part of the cells interior.
eukaryotic cells require a variety of
specialized internal organelles to carry out
metabolism, provide energy, and transport
chemicals throughout the cell.
Table 1: Eukaryotic Versus
Prokaryotic Cells
1. nuclear body
eukaryotic cell
a. Bounded by a nuclear membrane having pores
connecting it with the endoplasmic reticulum
(see fig 1)
b. Contains one or more paired, linear chromosomes
composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
associated with histone proteins
c. Nucleolus present.
d. Nuclear body is called a nucleus
prokaryotic cell
a. Not bounded by a nuclear membrane b.
Usually contains one circular chromosome
composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
associated with histone-like proteins.
c. No nucleolus.
d. Nuclear body is called a nucleoid
2. cell division
eukaryotic cell
a. By mitosis b. Sex cells in diploid
organisms are produced through meiosis
prokaryotic cell
a. Usually by binary fission No mitosis.
b. Organisms are haploid No meiosis needed.
3. cytoplasmic membrane (cell
membrane, plasma membrane)
eukaryotic cell
a. Cytoplasmic membrane and is a fluid
phospholipid bilayer containing sterol
b. Capable of endocytosis (phagocytosis and
pinocytosis) and exocytosis
prokaryotic cell
a. Cytoplasmic membrane is a fluid
phospholipid bilayer usually lacking sterols .
Many bacteria do contain sterol-like molecules
called hopanoids.
b. Incapable of endocytosis and exocytosis.
4. cytoplasmic structures
eukaryotic cell
a. Ribosomes composed of a 60S and a 40S subunit forming
an 80S ribosome
b. Internal membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria
endoplasmic reticulum Golgi apparatus, vacuoles, and
lysosomes are present
c. Chloroplasts serve as organelles for photosynthesis.
d. Mitotic spindle involved in mitosis is present during cell
division.
e. Cytoskeleton present. Contains microtubules, actin
micofilaments, and intermediate filaments. These collectively
play a role in giving shape to cells, allowing for cell
movement, movement of organelles within the cell and
endocytosis, and cell division.
prokaryotic cell
a. Ribosomes composed of a 50S and a 30S subunit
forming an 70S ribosome
b. Internal membrane-bound organelles such as
mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi
apparatus, vacuoles, and lysosomes are absent b. No
chloroplasts. Photosynthesis usually takes place in
infoldings or extensions derived from the cytoplasmic
membrane.
c. No mitotic spindle.
d. Contains only actin-like proteins that, along with
the cell wall, contribute to cell shape.
5. respiratory enzymes and electron
transport chains
eukaryotic cell
- Located in the mitochondria.
prokaryotic cell
- Located in the cytoplasmic membrane.
. cell wall
eukaryotic cell
a. Plant cells, algae, and fungi have cell walls,
usually composed of cellulose or chitin but
never containing peptidoglycan b. Animal
cells and protozoans lack cell walls
prokaryotic cell
a. Most Eubacteria have cell walls composed
of peptidoglycan b. The Archaebacteria have
cell walls composed of protein, a complex
carbohydrate, or unique molecules resembling
but not the same as peptidoglycan.
7. locomotor organelles
eukaryotic cell
- May have flagella or cilia. Flagella and cilia
are organelles involved in locomotion and in
eukaryotic cells consist of a distinct
arrangement of sliding microtubules
surrounded by a membrane. The microtubule
arrangement is referred to as a 2X9+2
arrangement
prokaryotic cell
- Some have flagella, each composed of a
single, rotating fibril and not surrounded by a
membrane No cilia.
8. representative organisms
eukaryotic cell
- animals, plants, algae, protozoans, and fungi
prokaryotic cell
- bacteria (Eubacteria and Archaebacteria)
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