Function of capsule

(a) It provides protection against phagocytosis and antibiotics.

(b) Capsule also protects the cell against dessication and viral attack.
Type of capsule
(a) Homopolysaccharide : When capsule are made by one type sugar e.g. Streptococcus mutans.
(b) Heteropolysaccharide : When capsule are made by many type sugar e.g. Streptococcus
pneumonae.
(ii) Cell wall : All bacterial cells are covered by a strong, rigid cell wall. Therefore, they are
classified under plants. Inner to the capsule cell wall is present. It is made up of polysaccharides,
proteins and lipids.
(a) In the cell wall of bacteria there are two important sugar derivatives are found i.e. NAG and
NAM (N-acetyl glucosamine and N-acetyl muramic
acid) and besides - or D - alanine, glutamic acid and
diaminopimelic acid are also found.
(b) One of the unique components of cell wall of bacteria
is peptidoglycan or mucopeptide or murien (made of
mucopolysaccharide + poly peptide).
(c) In peptidoglycan, NAG and NAM are joined
by short peptide chains or cross bridges of amino
acids.
(d) Outer layer of cell wall of Gram ve bacteria
is made up of lipopolysaccharides and cell wall of Gram +ve bacteria of teichoic acid.
(e) The cell wall of Gram positive bacteria is much thicker and contains less lipids as compared to that of Gram +ve
bacteria.
(iii) Plasma Membrane : Each bacterial cell has plasma membrane situated just internal to the
cell wall. It is a thin, elastic and differentially or selectively permeable membrane that allows passage
of dissolved substances in and out of the cell. It is composed of large amounts of phospholipids,
proteins and some amounts of polysaccharides but lacks sterols. The plasma membrane of bacteria
provides site for most of the anabolic and catabolic pathways. It is characterised by possessing
respiratory enzymes, which are bound to its inner surface some exoenzymes are also associated with
its outer surface which catalyze digestion of insoluble materials.
(a) Mesosome : On the plasma membrane generally at mid point, there are present some
circular coiled bodies called mesosomes. If plasma membrane is stretched then mesosomes are
disappeared. So mesosomes are simply infoldings of plasma membrane. Mesosomes contain
respiratory enzymes like oxidases and dehydrogenases and hence they help in respiration. Hence
mesosomes are also known as "mitochondria of bacterial cell" or chondrioides. Mesosomes are more
prominent in Gram +ve bacteria.
Mesosomes are present at mid point, so they help in equal distribution of nuclear material during binary
fission.
It help in secretion and synthesis of material for cell wall.
It receive DNA during conjugation and DNA replication enzyme.
Fig : Electron microscope structure of a bacterium cell
Cell wall
Plasma
me
mbr
ane
Respiratory
chai
n
Cytoplasm
Storage
Gr
an
ul
e
tRNA
Flagellum
Free enzyme
Free
ri
b
os
o
m
e
Internal
me
mb
ran
e
Nucleoid DNA
Mesosome
mRNA
Polysome
Fimbriae
Capsule
Mesosome participate in the formation of septa during cell division.
(iv) Cytoplasm and cytoplasmic inclusions : The cytoplasm is a complex aqueous fluid or
semifluid ground substance (matrix) consisting of carbohydrates, soluble proteins, enzymes, co-
enzymes, vitamins, lipids, mineral salts and nucleic acids. The organic matter is in the colloidal state.
The cytoplasm is granular due to presence of a large number of ribosomes (about 20,000 to 30,000), which
occur singly or in small groups called polyribosomes. The ribosomes in polyribosomes are held together by means of
messenger RNA. The ribosomes of bacteria are smaller (70S) as compared to those of eukaryotic cells. Ribosomes in
bacteria are found in the form of polyribosome. Membranous organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum;
Golgi bodies, lysosomes and vacuoles are absent. In some photosynthetic bacteria the plasma membrane gives rise to
large vesicular thylakoids which are rich in bacteriochlorophylls and proteins.
(a) Volutin granules : These are so called because they were first reported in Spirillum volutans
bacteria. These are also known as metachromatic granules, which are composed of polyphosphate.
They stain an reddish purple colour with dilute methylene blue. By electron microscopy they appear as
round dark areas. Volutin serves as a reserve source of phosphate.
(b) Fatty acids granules or poly--hydroxy butyric acid granules (PHB) : These are polymer of
lipid like material and chloroform soluble which are often found in aerobic bacteria especially under
high carbon low nitrogen culture conditions. Granules can serve as a reserve carbon and energy
source. PHB granules can be stained with lipid soluble dyes such as nile blue. By electron microscopy
they appear as clear round areas.
(c) Glycogen and sulphur granules : Glycogen are also known as polysaccharide granules. It can
be stained brown with Iodine. By electron microscopy they appear as dark granules. Another type of
inclusion is represented by the intracellular globules of elemental sulfur that may accumulate in
certain bacteria growing environments rich in hydrogen sulfide.
(v) Nucleoid : It is also known as genophore, nacked nucleus, incipient nucleus. In contrast to
eukaryotic cells, bacterial cells contain neither a distinct membrane enclosed nucleus nor a mitotic
apparatus, However, they contain an area near the center of the cell that is regarded as a nuclear
structure. There is present nuclear material DNA. DNA in bacteria is double helical and circular. It is
surrounded by some typical protein (polyamine) but not histone proteins. Histones (basic proteins) are
altogether absent in bacteria. This incipient nucleus or primitive nucleus is named as nucleoid or
genophore.