MIIM20001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Gram Staining, Cell Membrane, Cell Envelope
Document Summary
Bacterial cells: features of bacterial cells can be useful in the identification. Arrangement: some bacterial species have very characteristic features. Not as small as most viruses: size can vary. But there are also other shapes: there are always exceptions. Bacterial cell arrangement: bacteria can exist as single cells or in characteristic arrangements. Cell wall: chemically complex, facilitates discrimination between gram positive and gram negative bacteria determines how they respond to gram staining. Some bacterial cells possess at least one additional extracellular layer: optional layers may include, outer membrane- on gram negative bacteria, capsule, slime layer, s-layer. The plasma membrane (pm: essential for survival. Lysis of plasma membrane cell will die as can"t maintain osmolality. Allows selective interaction with environment: selectively permeable membrane, entry of nutrients, elimination of waste, encompasses the enteral contents (cytoplasm) of the cell. Location of many metabolic processes: respiration, photosynthesis, synthesis of lipid and cell wall components.