Transport processes prokaryotic membranes

Wickner (1980) proposed an alternative mechanism of protein secretion, called the membrane trigger hypothesis. This model proposes that the signal sequence influences the precursor protein or a domain of the precursor to fold into a conformation that can spontaneously partition into the hydrophobic part of the bilayer. In prokaryotes, the membrane potential causes the protein to traverse the bilayer. The protein then regains a water-soluble conformation, and is expelled into the medium. Signal peptidase removes the signal sequence during or after this process. Thus, secretory proteins or domains are transported across the membrane posttranslationally without the aid of a proteinaceous secretory apparatus. An energy source, such as the membrane potential, is required for secretion. 

Electron Transport Between Photosystem I and Photosystem II Inhibitors. The interaction between PSI and PSII reaction centers (Fig. 1) depends on the thermodynamically favored transfer of electrons from low redox potential carriers to carriers of higher redox potential. This process serves to communicate reducing equivalents between the two photosystem complexes. Photosynthetic and respiratory membranes of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes contain stmctures that serve to oxidize low potential quinols while reducing high potential metaHoproteins (40). In plant thylakoid membranes, this complex is usually referred to as the cytochrome b /f complex, or plastoquinolplastocyanin oxidoreductase, which oxidizes plastoquinol reduced in PSII and reduces plastocyanin oxidized in PSI (25,41). Some diphenyl ethers, eg, 2,4-dinitrophenyl 2 -iodo-3 -methyl-4 -nitro-6 -isopropylphenyl ether [69311-70-2] (DNP-INT), and the quinone analogues,... 

Although all tetracyclines have a similar mechanism of action, they have different chemical structures and are produced by different species of Streptomyces. In addition, structural analogues of these compounds have been synthesized to improve pharmacokinetic properties and antimicrobial activity. While several biological processes in the bacterial cells are modified by the tetracyclines, their primary mode of action is inhibition of protein synthesis. Tetracyclines bind to the SOS ribosome and thereby prevent the binding of aminoacyl transfer RNA (tRNA) to the A site (acceptor site) on the 50S ri-bosomal unit. The tetracyclines affect both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells but are selectively toxic for bacteria, because they readily penetrate microbial membranes and accumulate in the cytoplasm through an energy-dependent tetracycline transport system that is absent from mammalian cells. 

The absence of a nuclear membrane is a characteristic of bacteria that has a profound effect on transcription. Bacterial transcripts are processed rapidly, and their 5 ends often enter ribosomes and are directing protein synthesis, while the 3 ends of the genes are still being transcribed. In contrast, most eukaryotic RNA transcripts must be processed and transported out of the nucleus before they can function. As consequence, many aspects of the control of transcription differ between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. 

We have stated that translation begins before transcription is completed in prokaryotes. The situation is quite different in eukaryotes, where transcription and translation occur in different cellular compartments separated by the nuclear membrane. Large precursors of mRNA are synthesized in the nucleus these become complexed with proteins to form ribonucleoprotein particles which are modified and processed to form smaller mRNAs that become transported across the nuclear membrane to the cytoplasm. 

Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation re-oxidize NADH and FADH2 and trap the energy released as ATP. In eukaryotes, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation occur in the inner membrane of mitochondria whereas in prokaryotes the process occurs in the plasma membrane. 

In eukaryotes, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation occur in the inner membrane of mitochondria. These processes re-oxidize the NADH and FADH2 that arise from the citric acid cycle (located in the mitochondrial matrix Topic L2), glycolysis (located in the cytoplasm Topic J3) and fatty acid oxidation (located in the mitochondrial matrix Topic K2) and trap the energy released as ATP. Oxidative phosphorylation is by far the major source of ATP in the cell. In prokaryotes, the components of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation are located in the plasma membrane (see Topic Al). 

In a cell-free system inhibition can be shown to occur on both 70S and 80S ribosomes. However, in a more realistic in vitro setting intact prokaryotic (i.e., bacterial) cells are much more sensitive. The reason for this selectivity is that tetracyclines are actively transported into bacterial but not mammalian cells. In Gm- bacteria, at least, the more water-soluble compounds seem to cross through membrane channels (pores). The more lipid-soluble drugs (particularly MNC, Table 6-9) diffuse more readily through the lipoidal phases of the membranes. This energy-coupled process then leads to intracellular antibiotic accumulations. 

About 10 years ago, a new, easy and versatile technique for the introduction of larger macromolecules into eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells was established (Neumann et al., 1982 Knight, 1981) it is now commonly known as electroporation (Weaver, 1993). It is mainly a physical process, based on the transient permeabiliza-tion of cell membranes by pulses of sufficiently high electric fields. The underlying membrane phenomenon, called reversible electrical breakdown (REB) followed by transient pore formation, occurs if the transmembrane potential reaches values of 0.5 -1.5 V. Membrane pores are generated and molecules are transported through these pores by diffusion, electrical drift, and electroosmosis. Electroporation seems to be a rather universal process in most natural membranes. 

Cell nucleus As a cell s information center, the cell nucleus is the place where almost aU DNA replication and RNA synthesis (transcription) occur. The nucleus is spherical and separated from the cytoplasm by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope, which isolates and protects a cell s DNA from various molecules that could accidentally damage its structure or interfere with its processing. During processing, DNA is transcribed or copied into a special RNA, called messenger RNA (mRNA), which is then transported out of the nucleus and translated into a specific protein molecule. In prokaryotes, DNA processing takes place in the cytoplasm. 

A large number of cellular processes and biosythetic pathways of eukaryotic cells are compartmentalized and restricted to specific membranes. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are two cases in point. In prokaryotic cells, many of the same functions are performed by a single membrane. The transport of metabolites and ions, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis, phospholipid biosynthesis, and the synthesis of cell-wall constituents are a few examples of processes carried out by enzyme systems localized in the bacterial plasma membrane (Chapters... 

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