The prokaryotic cell
• INTRODUCTION TO CELL
• ORGANISATION OF
PROKARYOTIC CELLS.
By Avneet Kaur
Bsc medical Semester – 1st
Roll no- 2061107
Introduction to Cell
A cell is mass of cytoplasm enclosed by a plasma membrane and containing certain
organelles .
Cell is an open dynamic system Because it allows entry and exit of matter and
energy.
Every cell is enclosed by a distinct covering called cell or plasma membrane .
Compartments within the cells :The cells of bacteria and blue- green algae do not
contain membrane bound compartments in the cytoplasm. Such single compartments
cells are called prokaryotic cells.
TWO TYPES
OF CELLS
PROKARYOTIC EUKARYOTIC
(Gr. (gr.eu=true,typical;Karyon=
Pro=Before;Karyon=Nucleus) nucleus
Organisation Of
Prokaryotic Cells
The Prokaryotic cells , being the first to appear in the the world , are
morphologically the most primitive cells.
A prokaryotic Cell is essentially a single membrane.
The prokaryotic cells occur in bacteria and in the group generally called
Blue –green algae.
The bacteria and blue- green algae are known as the prokaryotes.
The prokaryotes are said to form kingdom monera.
Important features:
Comparatively small
Usually ranges between 1 to 10 micro metre.
A PROKARYOTIC CELL CONSISTS OF
THREE MAIN COMPONENTS
NUCLEAR
OUTER
CYTOPLASM REGION OR
COVERING
NUCLEIOD
BACTERIAL CELL CONTAINS
FOLLOWING:
OUTER COVERING:
CELL MEMBRANE :
• Thin and flexible
• Composed of lipids and proteins
• Carries respiratory enzymes for energy releasing reactions.
CELL WALL :
• Surrounded by a nonliving, rigid or Semirigid cell wall.
• Thickness Ranges from 1.5 to 100 micrometer.
• IN GRAM POSITIVE BACTERIA e.g. Baccilus polymyxa
• The cell wall consists of single thick layer with no visible differentiation into sublayers.
• It consists of two materials :
a) Peptidoglycan : Is complex of oligosaccharide chains and short peptides also called mucopeptide or murein.
b)Teichoic Acid consists of glycerol or ribitol –based subunits
linked up by phosphate groups.
In GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA e.g.Escherichia Coli
, and in blue green algae,
• The cell wall consists of Three Layers :
• Peptidoglydan : Is thin , just about 25 A
• Periplasmic Space :Lies outside the Peptidoglydan .
• Outer membrane:a) Consists of lipid Bilayer and Contains polysaccharides.
b) It is permeable and also contains Proteins called Porins .
Slimy Capsule:
• Many prokaryotes have outside the cell wall a gelatinous coat , the slimy capsule.
• It often consists largely of polysaccharides but may have polypeptides and other compounds also.
• The capsule protects the cell against Desiccation, antibiotics and virus attacks.
Cytoplasm :
• The cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells is simple.
• It contains proteins, lipids, glycogen and inorganic ions.
• THE CYTOPLASM SHOWS THE SPECIAL FEATURES :
• Cytoplasm lacks endoplasmic Reticulum,, Mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, centrosome, Vacuoles,
Lysosomes, microfilaments, Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules.
• Ribosomes are the only cytoplasmic organelles found in Prokaryotic cells.
• Cytoplasm does not show Streaming movements (cyclosis) , Typical of eukaryotic cells .
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
• Some prokaryotic cells form gas vacuoles in the cytoplasm.
• Phagocytosis , pinocytosis and exocytosis do not occur. Substances enter and leave the cell through
the cell membrane.
Nucleiod :
• The nuclear (genetic) material of a prokaryotic cell is not enclosed by nuclear envelope and lies
directly in the cytoplasm. Such nuclear material is called nucleoid.
• It consists of single Chromosome that is greatly coiled, forming a body of indefinite outline .
• There is a single copy of chromosome. Hence , The prokaryotic cells are haploid .
• The Dna is double – stranded and helical but circular and not associated with proteins , forming a
naked chromosome.
• There is no nucleolus .
• Mostly the prokaryotes are non – sexual organisms.
Plasmids :
• Many prokaryotes have small, circular Dna molecules called plasmids in
addition to nucleoid.
• They have 1,000 to 30,000 base pairs.
• Generally code for proteins Which are not essential for growth of the cell.
Flagella :
• Many bacteria bear whip – like locomotory organelles called flagella.
• The bacterial flagella are different in structure as well as working from
eukaryotic flagella.
• Bacterial flagellum is about 150 A thick and 10 to 15 micrometer long.
• Bacterial Flagella has two main parts:
o Filament:
It extends into medium .
It has a form of a fixed , open spiral resembling a corkscrew.
Composed of many Interwined spiral chains of the subunits of protein named
flagellin.
o Basal Body :
It anchors the flagellum to the cell and generates the force that rotates it.
IT COMPRISES TWO REGIONS :
• Shaft: The shaft bears a two pairs of ring in gram – positive bacteria and two
pairs of ring in gram negative bacteria.
• Hook : It represents middle part of flagellum.
• It measures about 170 A.
Pili
• A pili is a short , rod like, hair – like
Appendages found on the surface of
many bacteria .
• They are formed from protein pillin .
• They are usually less than 10 nm . Thick
and under 1micrometer .long.
• The pili are used for attachment to
surfaces , or food , or to one another.
