Dynamics of Prokaryotic Growth Flashcards
What is the optimal pH for microbes
Range pH 5-8, optimum near 7
To preserve food, how should pH be altered
increase the acidity
what prokaryotes grow at a pH below 5.5
Acidophiles
*bacteria doesn’t grow much in an acidic environment
what prokaryotes grow at a pH above 8.5
alkaliphiles
T/F must maintain a constant internal pH (cytoplasm) near nuetral
True
How does the bacteria maintain a constant internal pH
Pumps out the protons if in an acidic environment
Brings in protons if in an alkaline environment
microbes that withstand salt, (tolerates but does not need it)
Halotolerant
microbes that require high salt concentrations (i.e. will not grow at 0%)
halophiles
What is used to preserve food and how does it do so
salt and sugars, because the enzymatic activity is inhibited when all of the water exits the cell towards the higher concentration of solute
What are the two groups of required elements
major elements and trace elements
what kind or prokaryotes use organic carbon
Heterotrophs
What kind of prokaryote uses inorganic carbon as CO2
Autotrophs
What are considered major elements and what are their functions
*Required in large quantities
Carbon
Nitrogen: required for amino acids, nucleic acids
Iron: required for bacterial growth in large quantities
*free iron in the body is taken away so invading pathogens are not able to access it and multiply
Phosphorous
What are trace elements, how are they provided to the body and what is their function?
*Required in small quantities
cobalt, zinc, copper molybdenum, manganese
*Water will provide enough of these trace elements
*required for proper functioning of enzymes
microbes that cannot synthesize certain molecules, what are some examples
fastidious microbes
ex: AA, vitamins, purines, pyrimidines
