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    Glycocalyx and Cell Wall of Bacteria

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    Hrushikesh Kulkarni
    The document discusses the organization of prokaryotic cells. It notes that prokaryotic cells, represented by bacteria, are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells but multiply more rapidly. They have no membrane-bound nucleus. The document describes the various shapes bacteria can take and components of the bacterial cell including the cell envelope, cytoplasm, nucleoid, and structures like flagella, pili, and spinae. It provides details on the cell envelope, including the glycocalyx, cell wall, and plasma membrane. The cell wall provides structure and is composed of peptidoglycan that gives bacteria their shape.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Glycocalyx and Cell Wall of Bacteria

    Uploaded by

    Hrushikesh Kulkarni
    29 views3 pages
    The document discusses the organization of prokaryotic cells. It notes that prokaryotic cells, represented by bacteria, are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells but multiply more rapidly. They have no membrane-bound nucleus. The document describes the various shapes bacteria can take and components of the bacterial cell including the cell envelope, cytoplasm, nucleoid, and structures like flagella, pili, and spinae. It provides details on the cell envelope, including the glycocalyx, cell wall, and plasma membrane. The cell wall provides structure and is composed of peptidoglycan that gives bacteria their shape.

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    Glycocalyx

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    glycocalyx and cell wall of bacteria

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    The document discusses the organization of prokaryotic cells. It notes that prokaryotic cells, represented by bacteria, are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells but multiply more rapidly. They have no membrane-bound nucleus. The document describes the various shapes bacteria can take and components of the bacterial cell including the cell envelope, cytoplasm, nucleoid, and structures like flagella, pili, and spinae. It provides details on the cell envelope, including the glycocalyx, cell wall, and plasma membrane. The cell wall provides structure and is composed of peptidoglycan that gives bacteria their shape.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    29 views3 pages

    Glycocalyx and Cell Wall of Bacteria

    Uploaded by

    Hrushikesh Kulkarni
    The document discusses the organization of prokaryotic cells. It notes that prokaryotic cells, represented by bacteria, are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells but multiply more rapidly. They have no membrane-bound nucleus. The document describes the various shapes bacteria can take and components of the bacterial cell including the cell envelope, cytoplasm, nucleoid, and structures like flagella, pili, and spinae. It provides details on the cell envelope, including the glycocalyx, cell wall, and plasma membrane. The cell wall provides structure and is composed of peptidoglycan that gives bacteria their shape.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 3

    On the basis of organisation of genetic material, the cells are of two types : prokaryotic cells and

    eukaryotic cells.

    ProkaryoticCell and its Organisation

    The prokaryotic cells are represented by bacteria, cyanobacteria or Blue Green Algae (BGA),
    mycoplasma or PPLO (pleuron-pneumonia like organism), spirochaete and rickettsiae.
    The prokaryotic cells are generally far smaller than the eukaryotic cell.
    However, they multiply more rapidly than most of the eukaryotic cells.
    Almost alleubacteria (true bacteria) have a prokaryotic cellorganisation. Therefore, prokaryotic
    cells have much variation in size and shape.
    These are Morphologically most primitive cell.
    It is a single membrane bound cell and without membrane bound nucleus.
    Bacteria were first discovered by Anton Avon Leeuwenhoek in pond water and tartar of teeth.

    Size.

    The prokaryotic cells vary in size.


    The smallest bacterial cells are about 0.15-0.3 micrometer in diameter (e.g., Dialister
    pneumosinetes a common cold causing bacterium) and approach a size very close to that of a
    large virus.
    However, most eubacterial cells are 1.1 to 1.5 micrometer wide and 2.0 to 2.6 micrometer long.
    ,
    Some bacteria (e.g Spirochaetes) and blue green algae (e.g., Oscillatoria) may have length
    upto 500 micrometer.
    The largest bacterium, Epulopscium fishelsoni, was discovered in the intestine of the brown
    surgeon fish, is about 600 micrometer long and 80 micrometer wide where as Spirillum volutans
    is 500 micrometer
    Thus,some prokaryotic cells are much larger than the normaleukaryotic cell.
    Viruses have the size of 0.02-0.2 micrometere (Fig.).

    Shape.

    There are four forms of bacteria (Fig.). These are


    (i) Coccus or Spherical. They are spherical or ovoid in shape and may occur singly (Monococcus).
    in pairs (Diplococcus), in tetrads (Tetracoccus), in chains (Streptococcus), irregular grape like
    clusters (Staphylococcus) or clustered like a cube (Sarcina).
    C (iü) Bacillus. They are rod shaped. The shape of rod may be flat or round or cigar shaped. They

    may occur singly (Monobacillus) or in group of two after division (Diplobacillus).


    (ii) Vibrios. They are shaped like a comma ora small curved rod.
    (iv) Spirilla. They are shaped like a long twisted spiral or may be highly coiled like a cork screw
    (Spirochaetes).

    Components of Bacterial Cell (Fig.)

    RPB'S SPS FOR NEET/AIMS Page 1 of 11


    A bacterial cellconsists of a cellenvelope, cytoplasm, nucleoid, plasmids, flagellaand pili, fimbriae and
    spinae.

    Cell Envelope its modification

    It isthe outer covering of protoplasm of bacterial cell.


    It accounts for 10-15% of the cell volume.
    Cell envelope consists of three basic layers glycocalyx, cell walland plasma membrane.
    They are stacked upon one another and often bounded tightly.
    (1)Glycocalyx.

    It isthe outermost layer made up of macromolecules, I,e polysaccharide and proteins.


    Glycocalyx differs in thickness and chemical composition in different bacteria.
    Some bacteria have a loose sheath of viscous gelatinous nature called slime layer.
    It protects the cells from loss of water and nutrients.
    It may have a thick and tough covering components of this is compactly arranged then it is
    called capsule.
    Capsulated bacteria generally non flagellated.
    The slime layer and capsule are made up of polysaccharides and may also contain proteins.
    The capsule makes the cells gummy and sticky.
    Though this layer is not absolutely essential for bacterial survival but perform a number of
    secondary functions like
    Functions:
    A (a)serves as a protective layer against attack by phagocytes and viruses (immunogenic).
    A (b) protects from toxic chemicals and drugs.
    A (c) prevent desiccation.
    A (d) helps in attachment to a surface.
    A (e) provide virulence.

    (ii) Cell Wall.

    Position:- It is present below the glycocalyx.


    Shape:-It provides definite shape to cell.
    It gives strong structural support to the cell.
    It keeps the bacterium from bursting or collapsing in a hypotonic solution.

    Chemical composition:

    The cell wall material in alleubacteria and cyanobacteria is peptidoglycan or murein.


    > Peptidoglycan or murein is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids that forms
    a
    mesh-like peptidoglycan layer outside the plasma membrane of most bacteria,
    forming the cell wall.

    RPB's SPS FOR NEET/AIIMS Page 2 of 11


    Glucosyltransferase NAG NAG NAG

    L-alanine n3
    D-glutamate
    NAM NAM NAM
    L-lysine

    D-alanine
    Oglycine
    NAG

    NAM NAM NAM


    Transpeptidase

    NAG-N-acetyl glucosamine
    NAM-N-acetyl muramic acid

    It is
    composed of repeating framework of long glycan strands (N-acetyl muramic acid (NAM)and
    N-acetyl glucosamine(NAG)) which are cross linked by short peptide chains to provide a strong
    but flexible support framework.
    NAM is a combination of N-acetylglucOsamine and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), This
    addition happens exclusively in the cell ytoplasm.

    The cross linking of peptidoglycan strands is inhibited by a number of antibiotics (such as


    penicillin and cephalosporin).
    Therefore, bacterial cells undergo lysis in the presence of these antibiotics.
    Similarly, lysozyme, a-naturally occurring antibacterial enzyme in saliva and tears, hydrolyses the
    peptidoglycan and thus provides protection against certain bacteria.

    Gram negative and positive bacteria


    In Gram-negative bacteria,

    The cell envelope shows two layers, the outer membrane, a thin layer of peptidoglycan and
    plasma membrane.
    The outer face of the outer membrane contains lipopolysaccharides, a part of which is
    integrated into the membrane lipids.
    The inner face has a number of proteins which are anchored into peptidoglycan.

    RPB'S SPS FOR NEET/AIMS Page 3 of 11

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