Microbiology (Microbial Metabolism)

• What is metabolism?

  Sum of all chemical reactions in organisms
• What is the energy-balancing act in metabolism?

  Release or require energy during reactions
• What type of reactions are enzyme-regulated?

  Chemical reactions
• What does catabolism do?

  Releases energy
• What is the process of catabolism?

  Breakdown of complex compounds into simpler ones
• What are the characteristics of catabolic reactions?

  Hydrolytic and exergonic
• What does anabolism do?

  Requires energy
• What is the process of anabolism?

  Building complex molecules from simpler ones
• What are the characteristics of anabolic reactions?

  Dehydration synthesis and endergonic
• What are the fundamental differences between anabolism and catabolism?

  • Catabolism: releases energy, breaks down compounds
  • Anabolism: requires energy, builds compounds
• What is the role of ATP in metabolism?

  Intermediate between catabolism and anabolism
• How does ATP function in metabolism?

  Stores energy from catabolic reactions
• What happens during ATP breakdown?

  Drives anabolic reactions
• What happens during ATP synthesis?

  Occurs in catabolic reactions
• What is the outline of energy production mechanisms?

  1. Catabolic and Anabolic Reactions
  2. Enzymes
  3. Energy Production
  4. Carbohydrate Catabolism
  5. Biochemical Tests and Bacterial Identification
  6. Photosynthesis
  7. Summary of Energy Production Mechanisms
• What are the components of an enzyme?

  Apoenzyme, cofactor, coenzyme
• What is the mechanism of enzymatic action?

  Substrate binds, forms enzyme-substrate complex
• What factors influence enzymatic activity?

  Temperature, pH, substrate concentration
• What is competitive inhibition?

  Inhibitor competes with substrate for active site
• What is a ribozyme?

  A type of RNA that acts as an enzyme
• What does collision theory explain?

  How chemical reactions occur and their rates
• What is activation energy?

  Collision energy required for a reaction
• What is the reaction rate?

  Frequency of effective collisions for reactions
• What are catalysts?

  Substances that speed up reactions
• What are substrates?

  Reactants in enzymatic reactions
• What is the active site of an enzyme?

  Region that interacts with specific substrates
• What is the enzyme-substrate complex?

  Temporary binding of enzyme and substrate
• How does enzyme specificity work?

  Structure allows interaction with specific substrates
• What is the turnover number of an enzyme?

  Maximum substrate molecules converted per second
• What is an apoenzyme?

  Protein portion of an enzyme
• What is a cofactor?

  Nonprotein component of an enzyme
• What is a coenzyme?

  Organic molecule that assists enzymes
• What is a holoenzyme?

  Apoenzyme plus cofactor
• What are NAD+ and NADP+?

  Electron carriers in metabolism
• What is the mechanism of enzymatic action?

  Substrate binds, forms complex, produces products
• How does temperature affect enzymatic activity?

  Increases until optimal temperature is reached
• What is denaturation in enzymes?

  Loss of three-dimensional structure
• What is the optimal temperature for disease-causing bacteria?

  Between 35°C and 40°C
• How does pH affect enzymatic activity?

  Most enzymes have an optimum pH
• What happens at high substrate concentrations?

  Active sites are saturated with substrate