Exam 2 Study Guide Flashcards
define thermodynamics
a science that analyzes energy changes in a collection of matter called a system (e.g., a cell); all other matter in the universe is called the surroundings
List the laws of thermodynamic and describe their relevance in the chemical reactions.
- First law of thermodynamics: energy can be neither created nor destroyed, total energy in the universe remain constant; however energy may redistributed either within a system or between the system and its surroundings
- Second: physical and chemical processes proceed in such a way that the disorder of the universe increases to the maximum possible
What does “life obeys the laws of thermodynamic” mean?
obeys the laws of physics and chemistry
define the standard reduction potential (E0)
equilibrium constant for an oxidation-reduction reaction, a measure of the tendency of the reducing agent to lose electrons
Why do aerobics generate the highest amount of energy ATP and how does this play a role in the ETC?
o Anaerobes generate less ATP because the terminal electron acceptors in aerobes have more positive electron potentials. Aerobes have less positive because they do not use O2 .
o The electron acceptor has a smaller distance than between NADH and O2.
o This results in a shorter ETC in anaerobes and fewer protons transported to the periplasmic area.
( This explains why facultative aerobes try to use O2 as much as possible )
Compare E’0 of aerobic and anaerobic respiration
• The standard electron potential is aerobic respiration has more positive E0, and anaerobes have less positive E0. This is because there is a greater distance between the electron carrier and acceptor in aerobes. This often results in a lower yield of ATP in anaerobes.
True or False: A redox pair with more negative reduction potential will spontaneously donate electrons to a pair with more positive potential.
true
True or False: The first electron carrier in an ETC has the most negative E’0
true
True or False: ETC are associated with plasma membranes or mitochondrial/chloroplast internal membranes
True; they are in the plasma membrane of prokaryotes and mitochondria/chloroplasts of eukaryotes
All molecules found in ETC are capable of transferring both electrons and protons
false
Describe the flow of electron in respiration. What happened to the electron in each of the above processes (final electron acceptor?)
o In respiration, as electrons pass through the electron transport chain to the final electron acceptor, a proton motive force (PMF) is generated and used to synthesize ATP
o The final electron aerobic acceptor is O2
o The final electron anaerobic acceptor is NO 3-, SO4 2-, CO2, Fe 3+, or SeO4 2-
Describe the flow of electron in fermentation. What happened to the electron in each of the above processes (final electron acceptor?)
o Uses an endogenous electron acceptor
o Does not involve an ETC nor a PMF
Describe how enzymes are involved in chemical reactions
o Carry out reactions at physiological conditions
o Speed up the rate of a reaction to reach equilibrium quicker
o Can act as catalysts
describe enzyme’s involvement in activation energy and E0
energy required to form transition state complex, an enzyme speeds up the reaction by lowering E0
define apoenzyme
protein component of an enzyme
define cofactor
nonprotein component of an enzyme
define prosthetic group
A tightly bound cofactor that remains at the active site of an enzyme during its catalytic activity
what is the significance of cofactors?
Used for catalytic activity
how is enzymatic activity regulated or inhibited?
- Enzymes can regulated and inhibited through competitive inhibitors, which is a molecule that inhibits enzyme activity by binding the enzyme’s active site
- Enzymes can be regulated be using competitive inhibitors to fight the substrate that is supposed to bind to the enzyme. The main difference between them is that a substrate that binds with an enzyme will form a product, but a competitive inhibitor will not make a product.
- Enzymes can also be altered through noncompetitive inhibitors, which do not bind to the activation site. Instead, they bind to another site on the enzyme, making the enzyme change shape and causing the substrate to not be able to bind to the enzyme.
- Both of these processes are useful in controlling microbial diseases
How does Sulfanilamide use competitive inhibition to control enzymes involved in synthesis of folic acid?
Sulfanilamide (sulfa drugs) resemble PABA, which is used in the formation of the coenzyme folic acid. Sulfa drugs compete with PABA for the enzyme that is involved in folic acid synthesis. This in turn inhibit growth of microbes. It does not affect humans because we do not produce folic acid, but rather get it from our diet
what is the role of prosthetic group?
a tightly bound cofactor that remains at the active site of an enzyme during its catalytic activity
compare and contrast ribozymes and enzymes?
Ribozymes are an RNA molecule with catalytic activity, while an enzyme is a protein catalyst with specificity for the reaction catalyzed and its substrates
what are ribozymes and enzymes made out of?
Ribozymes are made of RNA molecules, while enzymes are made of either only proteins or proteins (apoenzyme) and a nonprotein factor (cofactor)
what is the use of ribozymes?
Ribozymes are used in the formation of a peptide bond between amino acids during protein synthesis. They are also used in catalyzing self-splicing, which they cut themselves into pieces and join back together.
Ribozymes in Tetrahymena spp.
slicing pre-RNA
ribozymes in numerous fungi
splicing mitochondrial rRNA and mRNA
ribozymes in plants and algae
splicing of chloroplasts rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA
ribozymes in viruses (like T4 and delta)
splicing of viral mRNA
posttranslational regulation
occurs after an enzyme has been synthesized, there are several mechanisms to alter the enzyme after it has been made, some are reversible like allosteric and covalent modification
allosteric modification
most regulatory enzymes are allosteric enzymes, they are a small molecule called an allosteric effector. It binds to the regulatory site and causes the shape of the enzyme to change. A positive effector can increase the activity of the enzyme, but a negative effector decreases the enzyme
covalent modification
A mechanism of enzyme regulation in which the enzyme’s activity is either increased or decreased by the reversible covalent addition of a group such as phosphate or AMP to the protein.
List and describe effects of environmental factors on enzymatic activities
when an enzyme is exposed to too much heat, high pH, or high salinity, the molecule can break down and become denatured. This causes the enzyme to be nonfunctional
What chemical intermediate links pyruvate to TCA cycle?
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH) oxidizes and cleaves pyruvate to form one NADH, one CO2, and acetyl CoA, which is the chemical intermediate
List the three chemoorganotrophic fueling processes.
- Oxidize hydrogen
- Sulfur oxidizing (hydrogen sulfide), sulfur, and thiosulfate
- Nitrifying
Define chemiosmotic hypothesis
- the most widely accepted hypothesis to explain oxidative phosphorylation
- electron transport chain organized so protons move outward from the mitochondrial matrix as electrons are transported down the chain
- proton expulsion during electron transport results in the formation of a concentration gradient of protons and a charge gradient
- the combined chemical and electrical potential difference make up the proton motive force (PMF)
Compare light vs dark reactions in photosynthesis.
- Light reaction: light energy is trapped and converted to chemical energy
- Dark reaction: the energy produced in the light reactions is used to reduce CO2 and synthesize cell constituents
Dna A
initiation of replication, binds origin of replication
Dna B
helicase breaks hydrogen bonds holding two strands of double helix together; promotes DNA primase activity, involved in primosome assembly
DNA gyrase
relieves supercoiling of DNA produced as DNA strands are separated by helicases, separates daughter molecules in final stages of replication
SSB proteins
bind single stranded DNA after strands are separated by helicases
Dna C
helicase loader, helps direct Dna B protein to DNA template
DNA primase
synthesis of RNA primer, component of primosome
DNA polymerase 3 holoenzyme
complex of about 20 polypeptides, catalyzes most of the DNA synthesis that occurs during DNA replication, has 3’ to 5’ exonuclease activity
DNA polymerase 1
removes RNA primers, fills gaps in DNA formed by removal of RNA primer
Ribonuclease H
removes RNA primers
DNA ligase
seals nicked DNA, joining DNA fragments together
Tus
termination of replication
topoisomerase 4
separation of chromosomes upon completion of DNA replication
What are the important features of Chemoorganotrophs?
An organism that uses organic compounds as sources of energy, electrons, and carbon for biosynthesis. Nearly all microorganisms are chemoorganotrophs
Can chemoorganotrophs use the same compound as a C source, energy source, and as a source for reducing power?
Yes, all chemoorganotrophs can use organic carbon for their sources of energy
what are some examples of chemoorganotrophs?
most non photosynthetic microbes, like most pathogens, fungi, and many protists
what is meant by CO2 fixation?
The process by which inorganic carbon is converted to organic compounds by living organisms
list the three pathways used by microbes to fix CO2
o Calvin-Benson Cycle
o Reductive TCA cycle
o Reductive acetyl-CoA pathway
carbon sources
o Autotrophs: CO2 sole or principle biosynthetic carbon source
o Heterotrophs: reduced, preformed, organic molecules from other organisms
energy sources
o Phototrophs: light
o Chemotrophs: oxidation of organic or inorganic compounds
electron sources
o Lithotrophs: reduced inorganic molecules
o Organotrophs: organic molecules
photolithoautotroph
o Carbon source: CO2
o Energy source: light
o Electron source: inorganic e- donor
o Representative organisms: Purple and green sulfur bacteria, cyanobacteria, diatoms
photoorganoheterotroph
o Carbon source: organic carbon
o Energy source: light
o Electron source: organic e- donor
o Representative organisms: Purple nonsulfur bacteria, green nonsulfur bacteria
chemolithoautotrophs
o Carbon source: CO2
o Energy source: inorganic chemicals
o Electron source: inorganic e- donor
o Representative organisms: Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, methanogens, nitrifying bacteria, iron-oxidizing bacteria
chemolithoheterotroph
o Carbon source: organic carbon
o Energy source: inorganic chemicals
o Electron source: inorganic e- donor
o Representative organisms: Some sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (e.g., Beggiatoa spp.)
chemoorganoheterotroph
o Carbon source: organic carbon
o Energy source: organic chemicals, often same as C source
o Electron source: organic e- donor, often the same as C source
o Representative organisms: Most nonphotosynthetic microbes, including most pathogens, fungi, and many protists
how is proton motive force generated?
During respiration, electrons pass through the electron transport chain to the final electron acceptor generating a type of potential energy called the proton motive force (PMF) The PMF is used to synthesize ATP from ADP and phosphate
how is the proton motive force utilized?
the PMF is used to perform work when protons flow back across the membrane, down the concentration and charge gradients, and into the mitochondrial matrix or the cytoplasm of bacterial and archaeal cells. This flow is exergonic and is often used to phosphorylate ADP to ATP. PMF is also used by many secondary active transport systems to directly move nutrients into the cell and to rotate the bacterial flagellar motor without the need for ATP hydrolysis
oxidative phosphorylation
The synthesis of ATP from ADP using energy made available during electron transport initiated by the oxidation of a chemical energy source
substrate level phosphorylation
The synthesis of ATP from ADP by phosphorylation coupled with the exergonic breakdown of a high-energy organic substrate molecule
Which phosphorylation is associated with glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport system?
oxidative phosphorylation
Define and give examples of amphibolic pathways
Metabolic pathways that function both catabolically and anabolically
examples:
o Embden-Meyerhof pathway
o pentose phosphate pathway
o TCA cycle
List possible molecules that are used as final electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration.
NO 3-, SO4 2-, CO2, Fe 3+, or SeO4 2-
Compare respiration and fermentation.
- Respiration is exogenous, goes through glycolysis and TCA, has a final electron acceptor (different in aerobic and anaerobic), goes through the ETC, has to have a constant supply of an electron acceptor, generates a PMF to synthesize ATP from ADP
- Fermentation is endogenous, only goes through the glycolysis, there is no final electron acceptor because the by product accepts the electrons, does not have an ETC, ATP is synthesized almost exclusively through substrate level phosphorylation
Why does anaerobic respiration and fermentation make less ATP than aerobic respiration?
Anaerobic respiration makes less ATP because the final electron acceptors are less positive, are there is a smaller difference in the standard reduction potential, fermentation has less ATP because it does not have an ETC, and glucose is only partially catabolized
Do any of the eukaryotes perform fermentation?
Fungi and protists
compare respiration and fermentation on ATP synthesis and the pathways involved
- In respiration, electrons are moved across the ETC, which creates a proton gradient. When protons are transferred it creates a charge that can be used to make ADP into ATP
- In fermentation, ATP is formed through substrate level phosphorylation and use ATP synthase in the reverse direction. They make ATP from ADP and P and ATP synthase pumps protons out of the cel
- Important pathways in respiration include glycolytic pathways and the TCA cycle
- Pathways in fermentation are lactic acid and alcohol
compare respiration and fermentation on the role of ETS
Respiration uses the ETC, while fermentation does not
compare respiration and fermentation on electron carriers and acceptors
Respiration has electron carriers and acceptors because it utilizes an ETC, but there is not an ETC in fermentation. The biproducts of fermentation accept the electrons
compare respiration and fermentation on the number of ATP produced
- There is a maximum amount of 32 ATPs in respiration
- There is a maximum of 2 ATP molecules in fermentation
list the end products of fermentation: lactic acid
• Lactic acid: reduction of pyruvate to lactate
o Homolactic fermenters: use Embden-Meyerhof pathway and directly reduce almost all their pyruvate to lactate
o Heterotactic fermenters: use pentose phosphate pathway to form products other than lactate like ethanol and CO2
list the end products of fermentation: alcohol
pyruvate is decarboxylated to acetaldehyde, and reduced to ethanol
list the end products of fermentation: mixed acid fermentation
will yield acetic, lactic, succinic, and formic acids, and ethanol
list the end products involved in fermentation: butanediol
major end products are butanediol, but also lactic, formate, and ethanol
What are the environmental impacts of sulfur-oxidation?
extraordinarily flexible metabolically. For example, some bacteria and archaea can grow by oxidizing sulfur with oxygen as the electron acceptor However, in the absence of , they switch from chemolithotrophy to anaerobic respiration and oxidize organic material with sulfur as the electron acceptor. use their carbon source but will grow heterotrophically if they are supplied with reduced organic carbon sources such as glucose or amino acids.
What are the environmental impacts of Nitrification?
nitrifying bacteria, like soil and aquatic bacteria, carry ecological significance by oxidizing ammonia to nitrate
What are the environmental impacts of denitrification?
soil microbes use nitrate (NO3 -) as an electron acceptor is anoxic soils, this depletes the nitrogen in soil and reduces crop yields, which makes farmers use nitrogen fertilizers which can contaminate wells, groundwater, and rivers. However, in sewage, it decreases the levels of NO3 – and pollution of the plant. Lastly, it links the carbon cycle to other cycles such as the nitrogen cycle and the sulfur cycle, which is the basis of interaction between microbes and their habitats.
chemolithotrophs
a microorganism that uses reduced inorganic compounds as a source of energy and electrons
What are the environmental impacts of chemolithotrophs?
- These microbes donate electrons to their ETC by oxidizing inorganic molecules rather than organic nutrients
- Because they make consume a large amount of inorganic material, they make important contributions to several biochemical cycles such as nitrogen, sulfur, and iron cycles
anoxygenic phototroph
does not oxidize water to produce O2, other molecules besides water are used as an electron source and O2 is not produced, bacteriochlorophylls are used as pigments, only one photosystem, and there are mechanisms to generate reducing power
What types of bacteria are anoxygenic phototrophs?
Proteobacteria (purple sulfur and non-sulfur bacteria), chlorobi (green sulfur bacteria), chloroflexi (green non-sulfur bacteria), firmicutes (heliobacteria), and acidobacteria
oxygenic phototroph
oxidizes water to form oxygen, photosynthesis in plants, protists, and cyanobacteria, oxygen is released into the environment when light energy is converted to chemical energy, its pigment is chlorophylls, has two photosystems