Prokaryotic and

Eukaryotic Cells

Structure and Function
In general microbes or microorganisms may be either
prokaryotic (bacteria) or eukaryotic (protists, fungi,
and some animals).

However, there are some microbial organisms that
appear to be intermediates between prokaryotes and
eukaryotes (they possess a nucleus but do not have
mitochondria or chloroplasts, an example is Giardia
intestinalis.

Prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes in several ways
including but not limited to:

Characteristics Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
Types bacteria (monerans) protists, fungi, plants, and animals
Organization unicellular usually multicellular (exception some
protists)
Cell size small (0.1-10um) larger (10-100um)
Membrane-bound organelles absent present
Reproduction asexual asexual and sexual
DNA circular linear
Proteins assoc. with DNA Basic Histone
Plasma membrane No sterols Sterols
Ribosomes 70S 80S
Cytoskeleton Absent present
PROKARYOTIC
CELLS



Key Functions of Cells

A boundary that keeps the cellular contents
separate from the external environment but allows
for the transfer of some substances into and out of
the cell.

Replication of DNA

Synthesis of cellular components

The ability to obtain energy through metabolic
processes

Appendages are basically involved in
movement or adhesion

Flagella (singular flagellum) are
cellular appendages that
consist of three parts:
a filament that rotates for
movement
a hook where the filament
attaches
a basal body that anchors
the hook to the cell
the arrangement of the
hook/basal body
articulation allows the hook
with its filament to rotate
360
o


Arrangements of Flagella
polar - flagella are attached at
one or both ends of the cell
monotrichous - a single
flagellum at one end
lophotrichous -
multiple flagella arising
from one or both ends
amphitrichous a
single flagellum arises
from each end
peritrichous - flagella are
randomly dispersed over the
cell surface

Axial filaments


are modified flagella that
occur in spirochetes

Non-locomotor appendages
Pili are longer and sparser
than fimbriae.

fimbriae are involved in
adhesion and pili (found
only in Gram - bacteria)
are involved in
conjugation ( a mating
process).

Cell envelopes differ between taxa
but they basically consist of three
layers:
The capsule or slime layer
(outermost layer) differs greatly in
thickness, organization and chemical
composition depending on the
bacterial species. T

Beneath the outer layer lies the cell
wall.

The cell membrane is a thin flexible
sheet that surrounds the contents of
the bacterial cell. Its functions
include: transport, energy extraction,
nutrient processing, and synthesis
The Gram Stain
An important tool in the
identification of bacteria is the
Gram stain. Some bacteria are
Gram + while others are Gram -
(some however, do not show a
Gram reaction). Gram + bacteria
stain purple (the color of the
primary dye) and Gram - bacteria
stain pink (the color of the
counterstain or second dye). The
Gram stain is a differential
staining technique because
different species of bacteria stain
differently. The difference is a
result of the composition of the
cell wall.

The protoplasm or cytoplasm
is the dense gelatinous
solution within the cell
membrane that is the
primary site for the cells
biochemical and synthetic
processes. The following
are found within the
protoplasm of the
prokaryotic cell:

chromatin body or the
bacterial chromosome

nucleoid or nuclear region
of the cell that is
associated with the
chromatin body

plasmids are tiny circular
extrachromosomal strands
of DNA

ribosomes are small
structures consisting of
RNA and proteins that are
involved in protein
synthesis

inclusions or granules are
areas where nutrients are
concentrated


Endospores are dormant
structures produced by
some species of Bacillus
and Clostridium.
Shapes and arrangements of bacteria
There are six common
shapes of bacteria:
coccus, bacillus,
coccobacillus, vibrio,
spirochete, and spirullum
and there are several
arrangements of these
cells: single, chains
(strepto-), clusters
(staphylo-), pairs (diplo-)
etc.
Eukaryotic Cell

Cell Membrane
Cell membrane
Structure
Components
Arrangement
Functions include
Barrier
Transport (know diffusion, osmosis, facilitated
diffusion and active transport)
Recognition (e.g., self vs. non-self)
Reception (for protein hormones)
Adhesion

Nucleus
Structure and Function
membrane similar to cell
membrane (similar
function)
Nucleolus (formation of
ribosomes)
Chromosomes (gene
expression)
Nucleoplasm (matrix)


Ribosomes
Structure
rRNA
Proteins
Function
Site of protein formation
(translation)
Found in both
prokaryotes and
eukaryotes (different
structurally)
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Structure membranous
system of tunnels and
sacs
Rough with ribosomes
on surface
Smooth- no ribosomes
on surface
Function
Rough protein
synthesis
Smooth- lipid synthesis
Golgi Apparatus
Structure also
membranous, kind of
like a stack of pancakes



Function processing of
lipids and proteins
Lysosomes


Structure membrane
bound sac containing
hydrolytic enzymes

Function digestion
Mitochondria
Structure cigar-
shaped, double
membrane-bound
organelle
Function Energy
transfer by ATP
synthesis
Chloroplast
Structure
Also cigar or spindle
shaped, double
membrane-bound, green
Function
Site of photosynthesis
OTHER STUCTURES
Cell walls, not in animal cells
Vacoules
Cytoskeleton
Cytoplasm