Discussion Topic: Prokaryotic Cells

Discussion Topic: Prokaryotic Cells

1. What two prokaryotic cellular structures would you target with the drug you designed? Why did you choose these two cellular targets?
2. Would your drug be harmful to human cells? Why or why not? *** Hint: Compare the structure of prokaryotic (bacterial) cells with the structure of eukaryotic cells. The cells in our bodies are eukaryotic.
3. Would this drug also be effective against parasitic and fungal infections? Why or why not?
4. Now, respond to your classmates and comment on the potential effectiveness of the drug they have selected, and offer potential pitfalls of the drug.

 

 

 

Student 1

John Hodges

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3/30/2016 3:35:54 PM

Unit 1

Discussion Topic: Prokaryotic Cells 1. What two prokaryotic cellular structures would you target with the drug you designed? Why did you choose these two cellular targets? I would design a drug Show More

Discussion Topic: Prokaryotic Cells

1. What two prokaryotic cellular structures would you target with the drug you designed? Why did you choose these two cellular targets?

I would design a drug to target the cell wall of a prokaryote as well as the nucleoid. The cell wall acts as the “gate keeper” to the inside of the organism. This wall is the first line of defense for many prokaryotic organisms in that it protects the interior of the cell from whatever environment it may end up being in. If you can disrupt this structures integrity you can hope to terminate the cell entirely. Another structure my drug would specifically target would be the cell’s DNA. The genetic material within a prokaryote is found in the nucleoid region. There is no membrane that safely houses this material so the effort to reach and destroy it should be an easy task after the cell wall is breached. If you destroy a cells “command center” you paralyze the cells ability to relay information required for the other structures and functions going on inside.

 

2. Would your drug be harmful to human cells? Why or why not? *** Hint: Compare the structure of prokaryotic (bacterial) cells with the structure of eukaryotic cells. The cells in our bodies are eukaryotic.

In order to create a drug that could be used to contribute to the health of a human, it would be imperative to first make sure no harm would come to human cells. My designer drug would not be harmful to human cells because a bacterial cell wall is made of chemicals different those in eukaryotic cells and my drug only disrupts the chemicals in a bacterial cell wall. Another reason my drug would not be harmful to human cells is because eukaryotic cells have a nuclear membrane that surrounds there nucleus which contains its precious genetic material unlike bacterial chromosomes which are contained only by the nucleoid. My drug could not penetrate the nuclear membrane of a eukaryotic cell.

3. Would this drug also be effective against parasitic and fungal infections? Why or why not?

Unfortunately, my drug would be completely ineffective against fungal or parasitic infections for the simple fact that they are eukaryotic organisms. A second drug would have to be used in conjunction with mine if the patient were infected with both a bacteria and some sort of parasite or fungus.

Reference:

Tortora, Gerard J., Funke, B. R., Case, C. L. (12/2011). Microbiology: An Introduction, 11th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://kaplan.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781323024614/

 

Student 2

Hello everyone, a prokaryotic cellular that would be is a drug would be bacteria and blue-green algae.  I choose these to because bacteria and blue-green algae is in almost everything.  Yes, because this way maybe people won’t do it the drug if the find out it can hurt them.  No, this drug won’t be parasitic and fungal infections because maybe it not these thing the drug won’t be hurting people around the world.
Ray