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BIOL 322 > LEC. 4 - Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms > Flashcards

LEC. 4 - Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms Flashcards

1
Q

What are chemolithotrophs?

A

use inorganic compounds to get energy for their metabolic processes

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2
Q

Which type of metabolism is considered to be the first form of energy conservation evolving on Earth?

A

chemolithotrophy

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3
Q

How do we know that chemolithotrophy was the first form of energy conservation evolving on Earth?

A

found on base of Bacteria and Archaea phylogenetic tree

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4
Q

Chemolithotrophs have the ability to act as autotrophs and can use CO2 as their carbon source. However, what are the 2 main components that they require in order for this to work?

A
  1. reducing power
  2. ATP
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5
Q

How do chemolithotrophs create ATP and reducing power?

A

by oxidizing the following:
1. H2S
2. S0
3. H2
4. Fe2+

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6
Q

What are the 4 energy sources for chemolithotrophs?

A
  1. H2S
  2. S0
  3. H2
  4. Fe2+
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7
Q

What is an indicator that chemolithotrophy is one of the oldest metabolic processes?

A
  1. energy source
  2. the fact that it uses a carbon source (CO2)
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8
Q

Along with H2 and H2S, list 2 other potential energy sources for chemolithotrophs.

A
  1. Fe2+
  2. NH4+
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9
Q

What are hydrogen bacteria?

A

use hydrogen as an electron donor

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10
Q

Bacteria and Archaea are awesome at multi-tasking. What is the other thing that they can couple the action of oxidizing H2 with?

A

reducing other electron acceptors like:
1. NO3-
2. SO42-
3. Fe3+
4. CO2

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11
Q

What is aerobic H2 oxidizing bacteria?

A

uses O2 as terminal electron acceptor

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12
Q

What do aerobic H2 oxidizing bacteria oxidize as the electron donor?

A

H2

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13
Q

What do aerobic H2 oxidizing bacteria reduce?

A

O2 to form water

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14
Q

For chemolithotrophs that use H2, what is the name of the enzyme that they developed?

A

hydrogenase

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15
Q

What are the 2 different types of hydrogenases that chemolithotrophs evolved?

A
  1. Cytoplasmic hydrogenase
  2. Membrane-integrated hydrogenase
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16
Q

How could one describe cytoplasmic hydrogenase?

A

as a soluble enzyme

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17
Q

What is the name of the hydrogenase that most H2-oxidizing have?

A

membrane integrated enzyme

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18
Q

There are some pretty unique organisms out there that use 2 hydrogeneses. What is an example of such an organism?

A

Ralstonia eutropha

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19
Q

What is the main goal of the membrane enzyme for H2-oxidizing chemolithotrophs?

A

energy conservation

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20
Q

What is the main goal of soluble enzyme for H2-oxidizing chemolithotrophs?

A

autotrophy

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21
Q

If an organism has only 1 type of enzyme present, what are the 2 functions that they are now responsible for carrying out?

A

energy conservation and autotrophy

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22
Q

H2 - oxidizing bacteria has the ability to act as autotrophs with the use of the Calvin cycle and can also grow as what other type of -troph?

A

chemoorganotrophs

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23
Q

If chemoorganotrophs are given the decision to choose between glucose (organic source) or H2 (inorganic source), which one would they choose and why?

A

glucose because it gives them more energy

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24
Q

For chemoorganotrophs, if there is glucose present will they synthesize hydrogenase and why?

A

no, energy conservation

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25
Q

H2 bacteria are known to have a mixed nature. What term classifies this?

A

facultative chemolithotrophs

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26
Q

In an oxic area, would H2 production be low or high?

A

low

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27
Q

Why would H2 production be low in an oxic area?

A
  1. no fermentation
  2. rapic consumption by anaerobes
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28
Q

What is the backup plan for H2 oxidizing bacteria?

A

they shift between chemoorgaotrophic and chemolithotrophic lifestyles based on the nutrients that are available to them in environment

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29
Q

What do colourless sulfur bacteria use as electron donors?

A

reduced sulfur compounds

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30
Q

In comparison to colorless sulfur bacteria, what type of photosynthesis do purple and green sulfur bacteria perform?

A

anoxygenic photosynthesis

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31
Q

What are the 2 reduced sulfur compounds that chemolithotrophs can use?

A
  1. hydrogen sulfide
  2. elemental sulfur
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32
Q

What is the first mode of biochemistry that chemolithotrophs who use reduced sulfur compounds as energy source have?

A

oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and/or S0 to sulfate (SO42-) through intermediary

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33
Q

What is the second mode of biochemistry that chemolithotrophs who use reduced sulfur compounds as energy source have?

A

oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and/or S0 to sulfate (SO42-) without intermeddlers (Sox system of genes)

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34
Q

Why does iron bacteria have to complete the oxidation of large amounts of iron?

A

because they’re only able to produce small amounts in an acidic environment

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35
Q

What are the 3 steps of acidification, the very process that is happening because of iron oxidation?

A
  1. spontaneously produced ferric iron forms insoluble ferric OH-
  2. precipitates are formed in an aquatic environment
  3. reaction lowers pH
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36
Q

Why did iron bacteria evolve to be acidophillic?

A

bc of reaction of acidification bc of iron oxidation

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37
Q

What are 2 of the best known iron bacteria?

A
  1. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
  2. Leptospirillum ferrooxidans
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38
Q

What is the electron donor for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans?

A

Fe2+

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39
Q

Why type of an environment are Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans most common in?

A

acid polluted

40
Q

What is ferroplasma?

A
  • archaea
  • acidophillic iron oxidizer
41
Q

What is the only form of iron that microorganisms can use as an energy source?

42
Q

At a neutral pH, Fe2+ will spontaneously become?

43
Q

Why must iron bacteria develop an oxidation system that is fast?

A

bc it can change to Fe3+ if it comes into contact with air, and thus, not usable

44
Q

What are 3 examples of bacteria that are able to oxidize Fe3+ rapidly before it gets exposed to oxygen?

A
  1. Gallionella ferruginea
  2. Sphaerotilus natans
  3. Leptothrix discophora
45
Q

What is nitrification?

A

chemolithotrophic nitrifying bacteria aerobically oxidizes NH3 and NO2-

46
Q

If ammonia were to be present in an anoxic environment, which type of bacteria would be able to oxidize ammonia?

47
Q

How could one describe the areas that nitrifying and anammox bacteria are widely distributed in?

A

wet and moist

48
Q

Which 2 organisms are responsible for oxidizing ammonia to nitrite in aerobic conditions?

A

AOB (ammonia oxidizing bacteria) and AOA (ammonia oxidizing archaea)

49
Q

Which group of bacteria is responsible for completing the full process of nitrification?

A

NOB (nitrite oxidizing bacteria)

50
Q

What does NOB (nitrite oxidizing bacteria) do?

A

oxidize nitrite to nitrate (NO3-)

51
Q

Which cycle do both NOB and AOB use to fix CO2?

52
Q

Why do NOB and AOB run reverse electron flow to generate NADH?

A

high energy requirements

53
Q

How does NOB use chemoorganotrophy?

A

growth on glucose or organic substrates

54
Q

Does AOB have alternate metabolism plan?

A

no, they are chemolithotrophs

55
Q

What is the name of the key plant nutrient that NOB and AOB are responsible for producing through a convertion process?

56
Q

Why are nitrifiers (NOB and AOB) important for sewage and wastewater treatments?

A
  1. remove toxic amines and ammonia
  2. release less toxic nitrogen compounds
57
Q

How are nitrifiers significant to lakes?

A
  1. decomposing organic matter in sediments produces ammonia
  2. nitrifiers oxidize ammonia to generate nitrite
  3. NOB convert nitrite to nitrate
  4. algae and cyanobacteria need nitrate to grow
58
Q

What is anammox (anaerobic ammonia oxidation)?

A

ammonia oxidation in anoxic environment

59
Q

What performs anaerobic ammonia oxidation?

A

anaerobic bacteri

60
Q

in an anammox reaction, what is the electron donor and what is the electron acceptor and what is produced?

A

donor: ammonia
acceptor: nitrite
produces N2 gas

61
Q

What is a major anammox organism?

A

Brocadia anammoxidans

62
Q

Describe Brocadia anammoxidans.

A
  • lack peptidoglycan
  • cytoplasm has membrane-enclosed compartments
63
Q

In Brocadia anammoxidans, what are the membrane enclosed compartments called?

A

anammoxosome

64
Q

How are the lipids that build anammoxosome different and not typical bacterial lipids?

A

have glycerol and cyclobutene (C4) ring attached to glycerol with ester and ether bonds

65
Q

What are the dense lipids present inside anammoxosome called?

A

ladderane lipids

66
Q

Significance of Anammox:
What is the source of nitrite for anammox?

A

aerobic AOA and AOB

67
Q

How is anammox crucial for wastewater treatment?

A

it removes ammonia and nitrite to produce N2 and H2O

68
Q

What is fermentation?

A

microbes degrading organic compounds in metabolic process bc no other stuff is available

69
Q

If fermentative organisms do not run the electron transport chain, then what do they do?

A

create ATP and NADH through Substrate Level Phosphorylation

70
Q

Briefly, how does fermentation work?

A
  • substrate is electron donor and acceptor
  • SLP makes ATP
71
Q

microbes fermenting sugars to make acids/alcohols as primary products

A

primary fermenters

72
Q

microbes using products from primary fermenters to make gasses for other microbes (methanogens, sulfidogens, acetogens)

A

secondary fermenters

73
Q

What is the number one product that is excreted from fermentation?

74
Q

What are some other end products of fermentation?

A

alcohols and acids

75
Q

What are fermentations classified by?

A
  1. substrate fermented
  2. products formed
76
Q

What are some of the broad categories of fermentation?

A
  • alcoholic fermentation
  • lactic acid fermentation
  • mixid acid fermentation
  • butyric acid
  • acetogenic fermentation
77
Q

In homolactic fermentation, what is the product?

78
Q

In homolactic fermentation, some organisms have ethanol dehydrogenase and they reduce pyruvate to…

79
Q

Because there is no aldolase that is present in heterofermentative, how will the process change?

A

going from 6C to 5C

80
Q

Which type of bacteria is responsible for eating and transforming lactose, fat and protein in milk?

A

lactic acid

81
Q

What is the importance of homofermentation to cheese?

A

mild flavour + acidity of cheddar

82
Q

What is the importance of heterofermentation to cheese?

A

complex “fruity” flavour and holes of swiss

83
Q

What performs butyric acid fermentation?

A

clostridum

84
Q

What is the gram + organism content in butyric acid fermentation leading it be what?

A

low and aerotolerant

85
Q

What are the early fermentation products in butyric acid fermentation and how do they affect the pH?

A
  • acetate and butyrate
  • lowers pH
86
Q

What is the name of the process that has no cytochromes?

A

butyric acid fermentation

87
Q

How does low pH in butyric acid fermentation affect the genes that are produced?

A
  • different sets of genes will redirect process
  • microbe consumes butyrate and acetate to make butanol and acetone
88
Q

In the stickland reaction fermentation, what is the electron donor and acceptor?

A

alanine - donor
acceptor - glycine

89
Q

What are the substrates in the stickland reaction fermentation?

A
  • 2 amino acids
  • ADP
  • Pi
90
Q

What are the products in the stickland reaction fermentation?

A
  • acetate
  • ammonium
  • CO2
  • 3 ATP
91
Q

Why is the strickland reaction important for our bodies?

A

prevents cavities

92
Q

How does strickland reaction work in our mouths?

A
  • comes between free roaming proline and amino acids (made by plaque)
  • product: δ-NH2 valeric acid
  • degrades to ammonia
  • ammonia removes H+, lowers acidity
93
Q

What part of our mouth is proline found in?

94
Q

What is the name of a common plaque bacteria?

A

Peptostreptococci

95
Q

What does Peptostreptococci do in our mouth?

A

complete glucose fermentation, producing free amino acids

BIOL 322 (3 decks)

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