Mycoplasma - Characteristics

Description:

Mycoplasma are also known as mollicutes. They are the simplest and the smallest free living prokaryotes.

Mycoplasma were discovered in the pleural field of cattle suffering from pleuropneumonia. These organisms are often called MLO (Mycoplasma like organisms) or PPLO (Pleuropneumonia like organisms).

Some of the important characteristics of mycoplasma are −

• Cell wall is absent and plasma membrane forms the outer boundary of the cell.

• Due to the absence of cell wall these organisms can change their shape and are pleomorphic.

• They lack nucleus, and other membrane bound organelles.

• Genetic material is a single DNA duplex and is naked.

• Ribosomes are 70S type.

• Possess a replicating disc at one end which assist replication process and also the separation of the genetic materials.

• They are heterotrophic in nutrition. Some live as saprophytes but majority are parasites of plants and animals. The parasitic nature is due to the inability of mycoplasma to synthesise the required growth factor.