2: Cell Ultrastructure

I. TWO TYPES OF CELLS AND THEIR FEATURES

Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Data less more
Visualizing prokaryotes is challenging due to their size; need to maintain in culture.
Size 1-10 um 10-100 um
Organisms Domain Archaea Domain Eukarya
Domain Bacteria (plants, protists, fungi, animals)
Energy Production Anaerobic Mainly aerobic
Aerobic Fermentation
Fermentation
Anaerobic respiration is not a fermentation but fermentation is an anaerobic process.
Genetic Material Nucleoid/nuclear zone True nucleus
> 1 circular DNA > 1 linear DNA
DNA complexed w/few non- DNA associated by histones.
histone proteins.
There are some bacterium species that may also show linear chromosomes.
There are also proteins that are present in eukaryotes but those aren’t histones.
Organelles Not membrane-bound Membrane bound
Recent studies states that there are actually membrane-bound organelles in prokaryotes (mesosomes,
magnetosomes, and chromatophores)
Ribosomes 70 S 80 S
3 RNA molecules tRNA molecules
55 proteins 78 proteins
S = Svedberg’s value (the higher the value, the denser the ribosomes)
No. of Cells/Organisms Mainly unicellular Some unicellular
Some colonial Many multicellular
Compartmentalization of Not as extensive (not distinct) Extensive (distinct)
Metabolic Fxns
Cell Division Binary fission Mitosis
Meiosis
Binary fission does not involve spindle fibers.
Endocytosis and Exocytosis absent Present (involve vesicles)

II. THE THREE DOMAINS OF LIFE

 Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
 Proposed by Carl Woese
 Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes aren’t taxonomic terms
 Classifying organisms based on 16s RNA
 has low mutation rate
 highly conserved
 common to all

There are no two domains that are more related or more different to each other.

BIO 120. Cell Biology 2nd Semester 2324 | ipluna

 Criteria Bacteria Archaea Eukarya
Small subunit RNA 6 nucleotide 7 nucleotide 7 nucleotide
Side bulge in hairpin Protrudes from the Protrudes from the Protrudes from the
loop stalk between the 5th stalk between the 6th stalk between the 6th
and 6th base pairs and 7th pairs and 7th pairs
Distinct features Between 500-545 Between 585-655 Between 180-197; 405-
498
Archaea and Eukarya are similar in their replication system.
Bacteria and Eukarya are similar in terms of membrane structures.
Cell Types prokaryotes prokaryotes eukaryotes
Cell Wall Peptidoglycan (murein) Variable (no murein) Variable (CHOs);
cellulose - plants
Chitin - fungi
The difference is in the material that the cell wall is made of.
Membrane Lipids Diacyl D-glycerol diester Isoprenoid L-glycerol D-glycerol unbranched
diether OR di-L-glycerol ester-linked
tetraethers
Ethers are more stable than ester (archaeans are found in very high temp, pH, pressure).
Isoprenoid allows the formation of transmembrane phospholipids which allows more stability.
Genetic Material cccDNA cccDNA Linear DNA
ccc = covalently closed circular
There are certain prokaryotic species that shows linear DNA.
Operons + + +
Operons
 Made up of structural genes; 2 or more genes that are adjacent to each other
 Proteins product are related; shares one promoter (binding site of RNA polymerase)
 Allows for coordinating gene expression (exp of one, exp of all)
Introns + + +
 Introns - intervening sequences in the genes; segments spliced
 In bacterial genome, there are generally no introns.
Antibiotic Sensitivity + + +
Depends on the MOA of that antbiotic compound.
Some would interfere w/peptidoglycan synthesis.
Some would interfere with lipid cycle (Archaeans).
Some would interfere with protein synthesis (all domains).
Photosynthesis + + (bacteriorhodopsin) + (chlorophyll)

III. THE SIMPLEST LIVING CELL

Mollicutes (The Mycoplasma)
 Belong to domain bacteria
 Lack cell walls
 Have plasma membrane, genetic material, ribosomes, cytosol, and cytoskeleton
 Biological significance:
 Minimum structure for free-living existence.
 Intermediate between viruses and bacteria in terms of size.

Synthia - synthetic biology showing off; flexing muscles without doing any lifting
Synthetic Biology - redesigning organisms for useful purposes.
BIO 120. Cell Biology 2nd Semester 2324 | ipluna
IV. PROKARYOTIC CELL ULTRASTRUCTURE
A. Cell Membrane
 75% proteins, 25% phospholipids
 X sterols; have sterol-like structure called hopanoids
 for transport and energy conversion

1. Mesosomes 2. Magnetosome
 Invagination located at the  Invagination that stores
cell equator magnetite crystals
 Something to do with: DNA  Magnetite crystals serve as
replication, segregation, cell an internal compass
division 3. Chromatophore
 Considered an organelle  Invagination arranged in a
ribbon-like manner
 Stores bacteriochlorophyll for
photosynthesis

B. Bacterial Cell Wall

 External to plasma membrane
 For protection, support, shape
 Immunohistochemical characteristics
 Made up of peptidoglycan (NAG/GlcNAc + NAM/MurNAc + tetrapeptide and pentapeptide)

Features Gram (+) bacteria Gram (-) bacteria

Cell wall composition Thicker peptidoglycan Thinner peptidoglycan;
periplasmic space
Linkage Pentaglycine linkage (cross Amide linkage (N group to C
linkage) group)

C. Outer Membrane E. Pili (fimbriae)

 External to the cell wall  Subunits: pilin
 Lipid bilayer with associated  Protection for pathogenic bacteria
proteins against phagocytes
 Different from plasma membrane
1. Type 1 (common)
D. Capsule  Cylindrical
 Made up of polysaccharide (source  For attachment to a substrate
of nutrients)
 Slimy, amorphous layer (makes 2. Type 2 (sexual)
bacterium hard to engulfed;  Conjugation - exchange of
protection against dehydration) genes
 External part of the bacterium  Pathway of DNA exchange
 Not present at all organisms between 2 bacterial cells
 For protection vs. Phagocytosis joined together
 Involve in cell to cell interaction

BIO 120. Cell Biology 2nd Semester 2324 | ipluna

 F. Flagellum I. Ribosomes
 Subunits: flagellin (helical)  70S - when split: 50S (large), 30S
 For locomotion; motility (pro: (small)
rotation; eu: bend sideways)  Protein synthesis; attached to
 Proton motive force (PMF) - mRNA
source of energy for movement  Processes happening
simultaneously: transcription at
1. Filament nucleus; translation at cytoplasm
2. Hook - joins the filament + basal body  Polyribosome complex ot
3. Basal Body - anchors flagellum in cell polysomes
membrane; has motor that control  Formation of DNA complex
movement and several mRNA strands
 Ribosomes are attached to
G. Nuclear zone (nucleoid) mRNA to initiate translation
 Contains the genetic  Transcription-translation
material/genome coupling
 With cccDNA  Do not wait for mRNA to be
 Bacterial chromosome associated completely synthesized to
with plasma membrane initiate the translocation

H. Plasmids J. Cytosol
 Another genetic material  Contains water majority
 Circular, smaller (exc.  W/proteins because of the
Megaplasmids) metabolic processes that require
 Use as vectors for DNA enzymes
recombination
 Store genes for: antibiotic K. Storage granules
resistance, tolerance to certain  Inclusion bodies
toxins  Storing reserve deposits of organic
and inorganic materials
 Organic: carbohydrates, lipids,
enzymes
 Inorganic: phosphates, sulfates,
nitrogen

L. Cytoskeleton
 Regulates shape and structural support
 Crescentin - crescent shape maintenance
 Aids in cell divison and chromosome segragation
 Establishing cell polarity
 Partitioning of plasmids distribution

Prokaryotic Cytoskeleton Eukaryotic Homologues

Fts Z, BtubA, BtubB microtubules
ParM, MreB actin
CreS* Intemediate filament
MnD, ParA Only in prokaryotes

V. EUKARYOTIC CELL ULTRASTRUCTURE

* Exer 2, pp. 35-39

BIO 120. Cell Biology 2nd Semester 2324 | ipluna

VI. ORGANELLES
 distinct or specialized structures and functions

A. According to Lehninger:
 Membrane-bound cell structure
 Contain enzymes
 Performs specialized functions
 Mostly found in eukaryotes

B. According to some authors:

 Any differentiated subcellular structure
 Performs specialized functions of unique structures
 Contains enzymes

BIO 120. Cell Biology 2nd Semester 2324 | ipluna