Microbial Metabolism

    Cards (52)

    • What do microorganisms require energy for?
      To maintain structural integrity, synthesize components, transport substances, grow, and move.
    • What are the energy classes of microorganisms?
      • Chemotrophs
      • Chemoorganotrophs
      • Chemolithotrophs
      • Phototrophs
      • Oxygenic Photosynthesis
      • Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
    • What are chemotrophs?
      Organisms that conserve energy from chemicals.
    • What is the difference between chemoorganotrophs and chemolithotrophs?
      Chemoorganotrophs use organic chemicals, while chemolithotrophs oxidize inorganic compounds.
    • What is Thiomargarita namibiensis classified as?
      A sulfur bacterium.
    • How do phototrophs obtain energy?
      They convert light energy into chemical energy.
    • What is produced during oxygenic photosynthesis?
      Oxygen (O2).
    • What distinguishes anoxygenic photosynthesis from oxygenic photosynthesis?
      Anoxygenic photosynthesis does not yield O2.
    • What type of microorganisms are green sulfur bacteria?
      They are anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria.
    • What is the difference between heterotrophs and autotrophs?
      Heterotrophs obtain carbon from organic chemicals, while autotrophs use CO2 as their carbon source.
    • What are chemoorganotrophs classified as?
      They are classified as heterotrophs.
    • What are the energy sources for different classes of microorganisms?
      Chemicals for chemoorganotrophs and chemolithotrophs; light for phototrophs.
    • What role do digestive enzymes play in the body?
      They help in the breakdown of sugar molecules.
    • What are catalysts?

      Substances that speed up chemical reactions without being altered.
    • What is the function of enzymes?
      Enzymes act as biological catalysts on specific substrates.
    • What is lysozyme's function?
      It catalyzes the cleavage of the β-1,4-glycosidic bond in peptidoglycan.
    • What are the components of enzymes?
      • Holoenzyme
      • Coenzyme
      • Source
      • Function
    • What is thiamine's role in enzymatic activity?
      It is part of the coenzyme cocarboxylase and is involved in the metabolism of pyruvic acid.
    • What is riboflavin's function?
      It acts as a coenzyme in flavoproteins and is active in electron transfers.
    • What is the role of nicotinic acid in enzymatic activity?
      It is part of the NAD molecule and is active in electron transfers.
    • What is pyridoxine's function?
      It acts as a coenzyme in amino acid metabolism.
    • What is cyanocobalamine's role in enzymatic activity?
      It is active in amino acid metabolism.
    • What factors influence enzymatic activity?
      • Temperature: Reaction rate increases with temperature.
      • pH: Activity declines above or below optimum pH.
      • Substrate Concentration: Maximum activity at high substrate concentration.
    • How does temperature affect enzymatic activity?
      The rate of most chemical reactions increases as temperature increases.
    • What happens to enzymatic activity when pH is not optimal?
      Activity and reaction rate decline.
    • What is the effect of substrate concentration on enzymatic activity?
      Maximum rate of activity can be obtained with high substrate concentration.
    • What is the relationship between dental caries and sucrose in bubblegum?
      Sucrose causes a decrease in pH of saliva, eroding tooth enamel and exposing it to decay.
    • How is energy released in ATP similar to kerosene?
      Both involve the release of energy during oxidation-reduction reactions.
    • What are oxidation-reduction reactions?

      Reactions involving the transfer of electrons from one molecule to another.
    • What happens when a molecule loses an electron?
      It is said to be oxidized.
    • What happens when a molecule gains an electron?
      It is said to be reduced.
    • In photosynthesis, what is oxidized and what is reduced?
      Water is oxidized, and glucose is reduced.
    • What are dehydrogenation reactions?
      Biological oxidations that involve the loss of hydrogen atoms.
    • How is ATP generated during oxidation-reduction reactions?

      Energy released is trapped by the formation of ATP.
    • What is phosphorylation?
      The addition of P to a chemical compound.
    • What is glucose's role in carbohydrate catabolism?

      It is the most common carbohydrate energy source used by cells.
    • What are the two general processes microorganisms use to produce energy from glucose?
      1. Cellular respiration
      2. Fermentation
    • What are the stages of cellular respiration?
      1. Glycolysis
      2. Formation of Acetyl Coenzyme A
      3. Citric Acid Cycle
      4. Electron Transport and Chemiosmosis
    • What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic pathways in cellular respiration?
      Aerobic pathways use oxygen, while anaerobic pathways do not.
    • What is the chemical equation for aerobic respiration?
      C6H12O6+C_6H_{12}O_6 +6O26CO2+ 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 +12H2O+ 12H_2O +Energy \text{Energy}