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MB2006: Principles of Microbiology > Biopolymers & Microbial Biotechnology > Flashcards

Biopolymers & Microbial Biotechnology Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

a) Polyhydroxyalkonates (PHAs) are common storage polymers in bacteria
b) Polyhydroxybutyrate/polyhydroxyvalerate co-polymers can be used to make biodegradable containers for personal care products
c) Ralstonia eutropha is currently used for the production of a biodegradable thermoplastic called Biopol on an industrial scale
d) Xenobiotics are natually occurring biopolymers that are synthesised by bacteria
e) Highly chlorinated compounds are typically the pesticides which are most resistant to degradation by bacteria

A

d) Xenobiotics are natually occurring biopolymers that are synthesised by bacteria

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2
Q

Which of the following statements (if any) is TRUE?

a) Primary metabolites are produced during the stationary phase of growth
b) Alcohol is an example of a secondary metabolite
c) Secondary metabolites are typically produced during the exponential phase of growth
d) Penicillin is an example of a primary metabolite
e) None of these statements is true

A

e) None of these statements is true

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3
Q

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

a) Penicillin is produced by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
b) Penicillin is produced by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum
c) Penicillin is produced by the actinomycete Streptomyces penicillica
d) Penicillin is produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas penicillica
e) Secondary metabolites are often large organic molecules that require a very limited number of specific enzymatic steps for production

A

b) Penicillin is produced by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum

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4
Q

How much plastic was produced in 2017?

A

348 million tons
(half of which was not recycled)

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5
Q

Since 2010, how much plastic has entered the oceans?

A

Between 4.8 and 12.7 M metric tons

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6
Q

Since 2010, how much plastic has entered the oceans?

A

Between 4.8 and 12.7 M metric tons

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7
Q

Which bacterium produces Bacitracin?

A

Bacillus licheniformis

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8
Q

Which bacterium produces Streptomycin?

A

Streptomyces griseus

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9
Q

Which bacterium produces Tetracycline?

A

Streptomyces rimosus

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10
Q

When is a PRIMARY metabolite produced?

A

During exponential growth
e.g. alcohol

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11
Q

When is a SECONDARY metabolite produced?

A

During stationary phase
e.g antibiotics

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12
Q

What are some features of Secondary Metabolites?

A
  • Not essential for growth
  • Formation depends on growth conditions
  • Produced as a group of related compounds
  • Often significantly overproduced
  • Often produced by spore-forming microbes during sporulation
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13
Q

Are Secondary metabolites small or large organic molecules?

A

Large organic molecules

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14
Q

How many enzymatic steps does the synthesis of tetracycline require?

A

72

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15
Q

What supplies oxygen to fermenters?

A

Impellers and spargers

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16
Q

What organisms are most antibiotics produced by?

A

Filamentous fungi or Actinomycetes

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17
Q

What is the Cross-Streak Method in antibiotics?

A

Used to test new microbial isolates for antibiotic production

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18
Q

What type of antibiotics are Penicillins?

A

β-lactam antibiotics

19
Q

What spectrum of activity do Penicillins have?

A

Broad spectrum

20
Q

What can repress Penicillin production?

A

High levels of Glucose

21
Q

When does Penicillin production begin?

A

After near-exhaustion of carbon source

22
Q

What is the structure of basic Penicillin?

A
  • Thiazolidine ring
  • β-lactam ring
  • Acyl side chain
23
Q

What are THREE semisynthetic Penicillins?

A
  1. Ampicillin
  2. Amoxycillin
  3. Methicillin
24
Q

What are Exoenzymes?

A

Enzymes that are excreted into the medium instead of being held within the cell

25
Q

What polymers can Exoenzymes digest?

A

Insoluble polymers such as cellulose, protein, and starch

26
Q

Why are enzymes useful as industrial catalysts?

A
  • Produce only one stereoisomer
  • High substrate specificity
27
Q

What type of bacteria are proteases used in laundry detergents isolated from?

A

Alkaliphillic bacteria

28
Q

What are Extremozymes?

A

Enzymes that function at some environmental extreme

29
Q

What is the optimal growth temperature of Pyrococcus woesei to produce pullanase?

A

100°C

Denatures at 110°C

30
Q

What improves the heat stability of Pyrococcus woesei?

A

Calcium

31
Q

What are the THREE ways to immobilise an enzyme?

A
  1. Bonding of enzyme to a carrier
  2. Cross-linking of enzyme molecules
  3. Enzyme inclusion
32
Q

What TWO examples that Immobilised enzymes are used for?

A
  1. Production of lactose free milk
  2. Glucose testing strips for diabetics
33
Q

What is Brewing?

A

The manufacture of alcoholic beverages from malted grains

34
Q

What type of yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae?

A
  • Top fermenting
  • Ales
35
Q

What type of yeasts are S. uvarum and S. carlsbergensis?

A
  • Bottom fermenting
  • Lagers
36
Q

What is Lagering?

A

A process where lagers are stored at 0-3°C for 4-6 weeks to permit slow secondary fermentation to take place

37
Q

What type of organism is Brewer’s yeast?

A

Facultative anaerobes
(can grow in the presence or absence of O2)

38
Q

At what percentage is glucose repressed?

A

0.4%

39
Q

What problems is protein synthesis in a foreign host subject to?

A
  • Degradation by intracellular proteases
  • Toxicity to prokaryotic host
  • Formation of inclusion bodies
40
Q

Where do RNA Polymerases bind on an expression vector?

A

At the Promoter

41
Q

What gene allows for selection in the host?

A

Antibiotic Resistance Gene

42
Q

What part of the expression vector allows the plasmid to replicate?

A

Origin of Replication (Ori)

43
Q

What is Somatotropin?

A

A growth hormone

44
Q

What does recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) do?

A

Stimulates milk production in cows

MB2006: Principles of Microbiology (8 decks)

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