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Why does the cell membrane of bacteria have to be elastic?
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JacobBob
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With what does elasticity of the cell membrane help bacteria if it is covered by a cell wall?
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macpatgh-Sheldon
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Hi Jacob (?),
The elasticity of the cell membrane helps with e.g. locomotion, when the bacterium pushes lumps of itself forward bit by bit, then the remaining lumps AND with forming pseudopodia [Greek pseudo = false; pod = feet [as in arthropod = jointed legs [you must have seen lumps on insects' and spiders' legs]; arthro = joint as in arthritis] so false feet] to engulf its "food". [you might have come across the "fluid mosaic" model, yeah? Why "fluid"? - yes, well done! - cos the way the proteins (extrinsic and intrinsic) are arranged and the layout of the phospholipid bilayer is, the cell membrane is quite flexible].
OK you are confused.com about cell wall - well , actually the cell wall is quite malleable [you do not need to know the detailed structure of peptidoglycan and murein [the latter is part of the chemical makeup of Gram -ve bacteria] at A level - if you need more info i.e. you are aiming for A*, PM me - happy to help!], so to answer your Q, the cell wall does not impede processes like the two examples above.
Having said that, oc the cell wall is required for survival of the bacterium, and we have exploited that (originally Alexander Fleming did in the 1930s) by using antibiotics such as the penicillins and cephalosporins to inhibit one enzyme required for synthesis of peptidoglycan that the bacterial cell wall is composed of - this means water enters the bloody things swells up and bursts - just what we need!
Let us take a slight detour for revision [one of my specialist teaching strategies]: brace yourself, young man - ready? Ok firsteasy one: what is plant cell wall made of? "Easy peasy, lemon squeezy he says - cellulose" - Yes correct, but you are not out of the woods yet.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. what is cell wall of fungi made of?.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... come on I am waiting!
................................................................................................................................................................................................Yes, chitin [further diversion: where else is chitin found in nature??..............................................................................................................................................................CLUE: think of the prefix arthro we used above......................................................................................................................yes getting there.......................arthropods - chitin is present in the outer cuticle of insects!
Enjoy your day!
Be safe!
M.
The elasticity of the cell membrane helps with e.g. locomotion, when the bacterium pushes lumps of itself forward bit by bit, then the remaining lumps AND with forming pseudopodia [Greek pseudo = false; pod = feet [as in arthropod = jointed legs [you must have seen lumps on insects' and spiders' legs]; arthro = joint as in arthritis] so false feet] to engulf its "food". [you might have come across the "fluid mosaic" model, yeah? Why "fluid"? - yes, well done! - cos the way the proteins (extrinsic and intrinsic) are arranged and the layout of the phospholipid bilayer is, the cell membrane is quite flexible].
OK you are confused.com about cell wall - well , actually the cell wall is quite malleable [you do not need to know the detailed structure of peptidoglycan and murein [the latter is part of the chemical makeup of Gram -ve bacteria] at A level - if you need more info i.e. you are aiming for A*, PM me - happy to help!], so to answer your Q, the cell wall does not impede processes like the two examples above.
Having said that, oc the cell wall is required for survival of the bacterium, and we have exploited that (originally Alexander Fleming did in the 1930s) by using antibiotics such as the penicillins and cephalosporins to inhibit one enzyme required for synthesis of peptidoglycan that the bacterial cell wall is composed of - this means water enters the bloody things swells up and bursts - just what we need!
Let us take a slight detour for revision [one of my specialist teaching strategies]: brace yourself, young man - ready? Ok firsteasy one: what is plant cell wall made of? "Easy peasy, lemon squeezy he says - cellulose" - Yes correct, but you are not out of the woods yet.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. what is cell wall of fungi made of?.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... come on I am waiting!
................................................................................................................................................................................................Yes, chitin [further diversion: where else is chitin found in nature??..............................................................................................................................................................CLUE: think of the prefix arthro we used above......................................................................................................................yes getting there.......................arthropods - chitin is present in the outer cuticle of insects!Enjoy your day!
Be safe!
M.
Last edited by macpatgh-Sheldon; 1 year ago
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