Chapter 27 Bacteria and Archaea Overview: Masters of Adaptation Prokaryotes thrive almost everywhere, including places too acidic, salty, cold, or hot for most other organisms They have an astonishing genetic diversity Prokaryotes are divided into two domains: bacteria and archaea Most prokaryotes are microscopic, but what they lack in size they make up for in numbers PowerPoint Lecture Presentations for Biology There are more in a handful of fertile soil than the number of people who have ever lived Eighth Edition Neil Campbell and Jane Reece Video: Tubeworms Lectures by Chris Romero, updated by Erin Barley with contributions from Joan Sharp Fig. 27-1 Concept 27.1: Structural and functional adaptations contribute to prokaryotic success Fig. 27-2 Most prokaryotes are uniular, although some species form colonies Most prokaryotic s are 0.5, much smaller than the 10 100 µm of many eukaryotic s Prokaryotic s have a variety of shapes The three most common shapes are spheres (cocci), rods (bacilli), and spirals (a) Spherical (cocci) 2 µm (b) Rod-shaped (bacilli) (c) Spiral Cell-Surface Structures An important feature of nearly all prokaryotic s is their wall, which maintains shape, provides physical protection, and prevents the from bursting in a hypotonic environment Eukaryote walls are made of ulose or chitin Archaea contain polysaccharides and proteins but lack peptidoglycan Many antibiotics target peptidoglycan and damage bacterial walls Using the Gram stain, scientists classify many bacterial species into Gram-positive and Gram-negative groups based on wall composition Bacterial walls contain peptidoglycan, a network of sugar polymers cross-linked by polypeptides Gram-negative bacteria have less peptidoglycan and an outer membrane that can be toxic, and they are more likely to be antibiotic resistant 1
Fig. 27-3 Fig. 27-4 Peptidoglycan Cell layer wall Cell wall 200 nm A polysaccharide or protein layer called a capsule covers many prokaryotes Carbohydrate portion of l ipopolysaccharide Outer membrane Peptidoglycan layer Plasma membrane Plasma membrane Protein Protein Grampositive bacteria Gramnegative bacteria 20 µm (b) Gram-negative: crystal violet is easily rinsed away, revealing red dye. (a) Gram-positive: peptidoglycan traps crystal violet. Capsule Fig. 27-5 Motility Some prokaryotes have fimbriae (also called attachment pili), which allow them to stick to their substrate or other individuals in a colony Most motile bacteria propel themselves by flagella that are structurally and functionally different from eukaryotic flagella Sex pili are longer than fimbriae and allow prokaryotes to exchange DNA In a heterogeneous environment, many bacteria exhibit taxis, the ability to move toward or away from certain stimuli Fimbriae 200 nm Video: Prokaryotic Flagella (S (S almonella typhimurium typhimurium)) Fig. 27-6 Internal and Genomic Organization Fig. 27-7 0.2 µm Prokaryotic s usually lack complex compartmentalization Flagellum Filament 50 nm Cell wall Hook Some prokaryotes do have specialized membranes that perform metabolic functions Respiratory membrane Basal apparatus Thylakoid membranes Plasma membrane (a) Aerobic prokaryote (b) Photosynthetic prokaryote 2
Fig. 27-8 Chromosome Plasmids The prokaryotic genome has less DNA than the eukaryotic genome Most of the genome consists of a circular chromosome Some species of bacteria also have smaller rings of DNA called plasmids The typical prokaryotic genome is a ring of DNA that is not surrounded by a membrane and that is located in a nucleoid region Reproduction and Adaptation Fig. 27-9 Prokaryotes reproduce quickly by binary fission and can divide every 1 3 hours Many prokaryotes form metabolically inactive endospores, which can remain viable in harsh conditions for centuries Endospore Prokaryotes can evolve rapidly because of their short generation times 0.3 µm Fig. 27-10 EXPERIMENT Daily serial transfer 0.1 ml (population sample) Old tube New tube (discarded (9.9 ml after growth transfer) medium) RESULTS 1.8 Concept 27.2: Rapid reproduction, mutation, and genetic recombination promote genetic diversity in prokaryotes Prokaryotes have considerable genetic variation Three factors contribute to this genetic diversity: Rapid Reproduction and Mutation Prokaryotes reproduce by binary fission, and offspring s are generally identical Mutation rates during binary fission are low, but because of rapid reproduction, mutations can accumulate rapidly in a population Fitness relative to ancestor 1.6 1.4 1.2 Rapid reproduction Mutation High diversity from mutations allows for rapid evolution 1.0 Genetic recombination 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 Generation 3
Genetic Recombination Transformation and Transduction Fig. 27-11-1 Phage DNA B + Additional diversity arises from genetic recombination Prokaryotic DNA from different individuals can be brought together by transformation, transduction, and conjugation A prokaryotic can take up and incorporate foreign DNA from the surrounding environment in a process called transformation Transduction is the movement of genes between bacteria by bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) B + Donor Fig. 27-11-2 Fig. 27-11-3 Fig. 27-11-4 Phage DNA Phage DNA Phage DNA B + B + B + B + B + B + Donor Donor Donor Recombination Recombination A B A B Recipient Recipient B Recombinant Conjugation and Plasmids Fig. 27-12 Conjugation is the process where genetic material is transferred between bacterial s Sex pili allow s to connect and pull together for DNA transfer A piece of DNA called the F factor is required for the production of sex pili The F factor can exist as a separate plasmid or as DNA within the bacterial chromosome The F Factor as a Plasmid Cells containing the F plasmid function as DNA donors during conjugation Cells without the F factor function as DNA recipients during conjugation The F factor is transferable during conjugation Sex pilus 4
Fig. 27-13 Fig. 27-13-1 Fig. 27-13-2 F plasmid Bacterial chromosome F + F + Mating bridge F plasmid Bacterial chromosome F plasmid Bacterial chromosome F Bacterial chromosome F + F + F + (a) Conjugation and transfer of an F plasmid Mating bridge Mating bridge Hfr F factor A+ Recombinant F bacterium A A+ F Bacterial chromosome (a) Conjugation and transfer of an F plasmid F Bacterial chromosome (a) Conjugation and transfer of an F plasmid F A A A (b) Conjugation and transfer of part of an Hfr bacterial chromosome Fig. 27-13-3 Fig. 27-13-4 The F Factor in the Chromosome Mating bridge F + F plasmid Bacterial chromosome F + A with the F factor built into its chromosomes functions as a donor during conjugation Hfr F factor F Bacterial chromosome (a) Conjugation and transfer of an F plasmid F + The recipient becomes a recombinant bacterium, with DNA from two different s A F A (b) Conjugation and transfer of part of an Hfr bacterial chromosome It is assumed that horizontal gene transfer is also important in archaea Fig. 27-13-5 Fig. 27-13-6 R Plasmids and Antibiotic Resistance Hfr Hfr Recombinant F bacterium R plasmids carry genes for antibiotic resistance F factor A F A (b) Conjugation and transfer of part of an Hfr bacterial chromosome A F factor A F A (b) Conjugation and transfer of part of an Hfr bacterial chromosome A A A+ Antibiotics select for bacteria with genes that are resistant to the antibiotics Antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are becoming more common 5
Concept 27.3: Diverse nutritional and metabolic adaptations have evolved in prokaryotes Phototrophs obtain energy from light Chemotrophs obtain energy from chemicals Autotrophs require CO 2 as a carbon source Heterotrophs require an organic nutrient to make organic compounds These factors can be combined to give the four major modes of nutrition: photoautotrophy, chemoautotrophy, photoheterotrophy, and chemoheterotrophy Table 27-1 The Role of Oxygen in Metabolism Prokaryotic metabolism varies with respect to O 2 : Obligate aerobes require O 2 for ular respiration Obligate anaerobes are poisoned by O 2 and use fermentation or anaerobic respiration Facultative anaerobes can survive with or without O 2 Nitrogen Metabolism Metabolic Cooperation Fig. 27-14 Prokaryotes can metabolize nitrogen in a variety of ways In nitrogen fixation, some prokaryotes convert atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) to ammonia (NH 3 ) Cooperation between prokaryotes allows them to use environmental resources they could not use as individual s In the cyanobacterium Anabaena, photosynthetic s and nitrogen-fixing s called heterocytes exchange metabolic products 20 µm Photosynthetic s Heterocyte Video: Cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria) In some prokaryotic species, metabolic cooperation occurs in surface-coating colonies called biofilms Fig. 27-15 Concept 27.4: Molecular systematics is illuminating prokaryotic phylogeny Until the late 20th century, systematists based prokaryotic taxonomy on phenotypic criteria Applying molecular systematics to the investigation of prokaryotic phylogeny has produced dramatic results 6
Lessons from Molecular Systematics Molecular systematics is leading to a phylogenetic classification of prokaryotes It allows systematists to identify major new clades Fig. 27-16 UNIVERSAL ANCESTOR Eukaryotes Korarcheotes Euryarchaeotes Crenarchaeotes Nanoarchaeotes Proteobacteria Chlamydias Spirochetes Cyanobacteria Domain Eukarya Domain Archaea Domain Bacteria The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has allowed for more rapid sequencing of prokaryote genomes A handful of soil many contain 10,000 prokaryotic species Horizontal gene transfer between prokaryotes obscures the root of the tree of life Gram-positive bacteria Archaea Fig. 27-UN1 Table 27-2 Archaea share certain traits with bacteria and other traits with eukaryotes Eukarya Archaea Bacteria Fig. 27-17 Some archaea live in extreme environments and are called extremophiles Methanogens live in swamps and marshes and produce methane as a waste product Extreme halophiles live in highly saline environments Methanogens are strict anaerobes and are poisoned by O 2 Extreme thermophiles thrive in very hot environments In recent years, genetic prospecting has revealed many new groups of archaea Some of these may offer clues to the early evolution of life on Earth 7
Bacteria Fig. 27-UN2 Bacteria include the vast majority of prokaryotes of which most people are aware Diverse nutritional types are scattered among the major groups of bacteria Eukarya Archaea Bacteria Proteobacteria These gram-negative bacteria include photoautotrophs, chemoautotrophs, and heterotrophs Some are anaerobic, and others aerobic Fig. 27-18a Subgroup: Alpha Proteobacteria Fig. 27-18b Alpha Beta Gamma Proteobacteria Delta Epsilon Subgroup: Beta Proteobacteria Rhizobium (arrows) inside a root of a legume (TEM) Subgroup: Gamma Proteobacteria 2. Alpha Beta Subgroup: Alpha Proteobacteria Many species are closely associated with eukaryotic hosts Nitrosomonas (colorized TEM) Subgroup: Delta Proteobacteria B. bacteriophorus 10 µm Thiomargarita namibiensis containing sulfur wastes (LM) Subgroup: Epsilon Proteobacteria 2 µm 0. Gamma Delta Epsilon Proteobacteria Scientists hypothesize that mitochondria evolved from aerobic alpha proteobacteria through endosymbiosis Fruiting bodies of Chondromyces crocatus, a myxobacterium (SEM) Bdellovibrio bacteriophorus attacking a larger bacterium (colorized TEM) Helicobacter pylori (colorized TEM) Fig. 27-18c Example: Rhizobium, which forms root nodules in legumes and fixes atmospheric N 2 Example: Agrobacterium, which produces tumors in plants and is used in genetic engineering 2. Rhizobium (arrows) inside a root of a legume (TEM) Subgroup: Beta Proteobacteria Example: the soil bacterium Nitrosomonas, which converts NH 4 + to NO 2 8
Fig. 27-18d Fig. 27-18e Subgroup: Gamma Proteobacteria Examples include sulfur bacteria such as Chromatium and pathogens such as Legionella, Salmonella, and Vibrio cholerae Nitrosomonas (colorized TEM) Escherichia coli resides in the intestines of many mammals and is not normally pathogenic Thiomargarita namibiensis containing sulfur wastes (LM) 0. Fig. 27-18f Fig. 27-18g Subgroup: Delta Proteobacteria Example: the slime-secreting myxobacteria 10 µm B. bacteriophorus Fruiting bodies of Chondromyces crocatus, a myxobacterium (SEM) Bdellovibrio bacteriophorus attacking a larger bacterium (colorized TEM) Fig. 27-18h Subgroup: Epsilon Proteobacteria This group contains many pathogens including Campylobacter, which causes blood poisoning, and Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach ulcers 2 µm Helicobacter pylori (colorized TEM) Chlamydias These bacteria are parasites that live within animal s Chlamydia trachomatis causes blindness and nongonococcal urethritis by sexual transmission 9
Fig. 27-18i Fig. 27-18j CHLAMYDIAS SPIROCHETES Spirochetes 2. Chlamydia (arrows) inside an animal (colorized TEM) CYANOBACTERIA Leptospira, a spirochete (colorized TEM) GRAM-POSITIVE BACTERIA 2. These bacteria are helical heterotrophs Some, such as Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis, and Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, are parasites 50 µm Chlamydia (arrows) inside an animal (colorized TEM) Two species of Oscillatoria, filamentous cyanobacteria (LM) Streptomyces, the source of many antibiotics (colorized SEM) Hundreds of mycoplasmas covering a human fibroblast (colorized SEM) Fig. 27-18k Cyanobacteria Fig. 27-18l These are photoautotrophs that generate O 2 Plant chloroplasts likely evolved from cyanobacteria by the process of endosymbiosis Leptospira, a spirochete (colorized TEM) Two species of Oscillatoria, filamentous cyanobacteria (LM) 50 µm Fig. 27-18m Fig. 27-18n Gram-Positive Bacteria Gram-positive bacteria include Actinomycetes, which decompose soil Bacillus anthracis, the cause of anthrax Clostridium botulinum, the cause of botulism Some Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, which can be pathogenic Streptomyces, the source of many antibiotics (colorized SEM) Hundreds of mycoplasmas covering a human fibroblast (colorized SEM) Mycoplasms, the smallest known s 10
Concept 27.5: Prokaryotes play crucial roles in the biosphere Prokaryotes are so important to the biosphere that if they were to disappear the prospects for any other life surviving would be dim Chemical Cycling Prokaryotes play a major role in the recycling of chemical elements between the living and nonliving components of ecosystems Chemoheterotrophic prokaryotes function as decomposers, breaking down corpses, dead vegetation, and waste products Nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes add usable nitrogen to the environment Prokaryotes can sometimes increase the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for plant growth Prokaryotes can also immobilize or decrease the availability of nutrients Fig. 27-19 Ecological Interactions Uptake of K by plants (mg) 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 No Strain 1 Strain 2 Strain 3 bacteria Soil treatment Symbiosis is an ecological relationship in which two species live in close contact: a larger host and smaller symbiont Prokaryotes often form symbiotic relationships with larger organisms In mutualism, both symbiotic organisms benefit In commensalism, one organism benefits while neither harming nor helping the other in any significant way In parasitism, an organism called a parasite harms but does not kill its host Parasites that cause disease are called pathogens Fig. 27-20 Concept 27.6: Prokaryotes have both harmful and beneficial impacts on humans Pathogenic Prokaryotes Some prokaryotes are human pathogens, but others have positive interactions with humans Prokaryotes cause about half of all human diseases Lyme disease is an example 11
Fig. 27-21 Prokaryotes in Research and Technology Pathogenic prokaryotes typically cause disease by releasing exotoxins or endotoxins Exotoxins cause disease even if the prokaryotes that produce them are not present Endotoxins are released only when bacteria die and their walls break down Many pathogenic bacteria are potential weapons of bioterrorism Experiments using prokaryotes have led to important advances in DNA technology Prokaryotes are the principal agents in bioremediation, the use of organisms to remove pollutants from the environment Fig. 27-22 You should now be able to: Some other uses of prokaryotes: Recovery of metals from ores Synthesis of vitamins Production of antibiotics, hormones, and other products (a) (b) (c) 1. Distinguish between the walls of grampositive and gram-negative bacteria 2. State the function of the following features: capsule, fimbriae, sex pilus, nucleoid, plasmid, and endospore 3. Explain how R plasmids confer antibiotic resistance on bacteria 4. Distinguish among the following sets of terms: photoautotrophs, chemoautotrophs, photoheterotrophs, and chemoheterotrophs; obligate aerobe, facultative anaerobe, and obligate anaerobe; mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism; exotoxins and endotoxins 12