Which is a macromolecular difference between the domains bacteria and archaea?
What are the macromolecular differences between the domains bacteria and archaea?
Macromolecular Differences Between Bacteria and Archaea
Chromosomes:
Bacteria: Most bacteria have a single, circular chromosome.
Archaea: Archaea usually have multiple linear chromosomes.
Membrane Lipids:
Bacterial Membranes: Bacterial membranes contain phospholipids with ester bonds.
Archaeal Membranes: Archaeal membranes contain phospholipids with ether bonds and branched hydrocarbon chains. This difference in lipid composition contributes to the unique properties of archaeal membranes compared to bacterial membranes.
RNA Polymerase Enzymes:
Bacteria: Bacteria have a single RNA polymerase enzyme with multiple subunits.
Archaea: Archaea have multiple RNA polymerase enzymes with different structures and functions. This difference in RNA polymerase enzymes reflects the evolutionary divergence between bacteria and archaea at the molecular level.