BI276 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Basal Body, Glycocalyx, Flagellin
Document Summary
Capsule: substance that is organized and firmly attached to the cell wall. Slime layer: unorganized substance loosely associated with the cell wall. Eps: extracellular polysaccharide, so called when glycocalyx is comprised of sugar molecules. Examples of microorganisms protected by glycocalyx: bacillus anthracis, klebsiella, streptococcus mutans. Long filamentous appendages which propel bacteria through a medium. Filament: consists of flagellin protein arranged in chains intertwined around a hollow core. Hook: protein to which filament is attached. Basal body: anchors flagellum to the cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane; consists of a central rod inserted into a series of rings. Gram negative bacteria contain 2 pairs of rings in the basal body; outer pair anchored to the cell wall and inner pair anchored to the plasma membrane. Gram positive bacteria typically contain only the inner pair of rings attached to the plasma membrane. Movement is achieved through the rotation of the flagellum from the basal body either clockwise or counter clockwise.
