Microbial metabolism

• Chemoorganotrophs


  Wide variety of organic molecules used as energy sources. Degradation pathways generate glucose or intermediates of the pathways used in glucose metabolism.
• Examples of chemoorganotrophs


  Clostridia – can use amino acids in the soil as • Only a few pathways deployed energy source

  Pseudomonads - can degrade complex nutrients to increase metabolic

  molecules such as pesticides, polystyrene and

  phenolic resins in the soil