Prokaryotic Cell Structure: The Cytoplasmic Membrane

Learning Objectives for "Prokaryotic Cell Structure: The Cytoplasmic Membrane"

After completing this section you should be able to perform the following objectives.

1. State the chemical composition and major function of the cytoplasmic membrane in bacteria.

2. Briefly describe the fluid phospholipid bilayer arrangement of biological membranes.

3. State the net flow of water when a cell is placed in an isotonic, hypertonic, or hypotonic environment and relate this to the solute concentration.

4. Define the following means of transport:

a. passive diffusion
b. osmosis
c. channel proteins
d. uniporter
e. antiporter
f. symporter
g. facilitated diffusion
h. active transport
i. the ABC transport system
j. group translocation

5. State how the antibiotic polymyxin and disinfectants such as orthophenylphenol, chlorhexidine, hexachlorophene, zephiran, and alcohol affect bacteria.

6. Define binary fission and geometric progression and relate this to bacteria being able to astronomically increase their numbers in a relatively short period of time.

7. Briefly describe the process of binary fission in bacteria, stating the functions of Par proteins, the divisome, and FtsZ proteins.

RETURN TO "PROKARYOTIC CELL STRUCTURE: THE CYTOPLASMIC MEMBRANE"