LEC. 4 - Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms Flashcards
What are chemolithotrophs?
use inorganic compounds to get energy for their metabolic processes
Which type of metabolism is considered to be the first form of energy conservation evolving on Earth?
chemolithotrophy
How do we know that chemolithotrophy was the first form of energy conservation evolving on Earth?
found on base of Bacteria and Archaea phylogenetic tree
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?
- reducing power
- ATP
How do chemolithotrophs create ATP and reducing power?
by oxidizing the following:
1. H2S
2. S0
3. H2
4. Fe2+
What are the 4 energy sources for chemolithotrophs?
- H2S
- S0
- H2
- Fe2+
What is an indicator that chemolithotrophy is one of the oldest metabolic processes?
- energy source
- the fact that it uses a carbon source (CO2)
Along with H2 and H2S, list 2 other potential energy sources for chemolithotrophs.
- Fe2+
- NH4+
What are hydrogen bacteria?
use hydrogen as an electron donor
Bacteria and Archaea are awesome at multi-tasking. What is the other thing that they can couple the action of oxidizing H2 with?
reducing other electron acceptors like:
1. NO3-
2. SO42-
3. Fe3+
4. CO2
What is aerobic H2 oxidizing bacteria?
uses O2 as terminal electron acceptor
What do aerobic H2 oxidizing bacteria oxidize as the electron donor?
H2
What do aerobic H2 oxidizing bacteria reduce?
O2 to form water
For chemolithotrophs that use H2, what is the name of the enzyme that they developed?
hydrogenase
What are the 2 different types of hydrogenases that chemolithotrophs evolved?
- Cytoplasmic hydrogenase
- Membrane-integrated hydrogenase
How could one describe cytoplasmic hydrogenase?
as a soluble enzyme
What is the name of the hydrogenase that most H2-oxidizing have?
membrane integrated enzyme
There are some pretty unique organisms out there that use 2 hydrogeneses. What is an example of such an organism?
Ralstonia eutropha
What is the main goal of the membrane enzyme for H2-oxidizing chemolithotrophs?
energy conservation
What is the main goal of soluble enzyme for H2-oxidizing chemolithotrophs?
autotrophy
If an organism has only 1 type of enzyme present, what are the 2 functions that they are now responsible for carrying out?
energy conservation and autotrophy
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?
chemoorganotrophs
If chemoorganotrophs are given the decision to choose between glucose (organic source) or H2 (inorganic source), which one would they choose and why?
glucose because it gives them more energy
For chemoorganotrophs, if there is glucose present will they synthesize hydrogenase and why?
no, energy conservation
H2 bacteria are known to have a mixed nature. What term classifies this?
facultative chemolithotrophs
In an oxic area, would H2 production be low or high?
low
Why would H2 production be low in an oxic area?
- no fermentation
- rapic consumption by anaerobes
What is the backup plan for H2 oxidizing bacteria?
they shift between chemoorgaotrophic and chemolithotrophic lifestyles based on the nutrients that are available to them in environment
What do colourless sulfur bacteria use as electron donors?
reduced sulfur compounds
In comparison to colorless sulfur bacteria, what type of photosynthesis do purple and green sulfur bacteria perform?
anoxygenic photosynthesis
What are the 2 reduced sulfur compounds that chemolithotrophs can use?
- hydrogen sulfide
- elemental sulfur
What is the first mode of biochemistry that chemolithotrophs who use reduced sulfur compounds as energy source have?
oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and/or S0 to sulfate (SO42-) through intermediary
What is the second mode of biochemistry that chemolithotrophs who use reduced sulfur compounds as energy source have?
oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and/or S0 to sulfate (SO42-) without intermeddlers (Sox system of genes)
Why does iron bacteria have to complete the oxidation of large amounts of iron?
because they’re only able to produce small amounts in an acidic environment
What are the 3 steps of acidification, the very process that is happening because of iron oxidation?
- spontaneously produced ferric iron forms insoluble ferric OH-
- precipitates are formed in an aquatic environment
- reaction lowers pH
Why did iron bacteria evolve to be acidophillic?
bc of reaction of acidification bc of iron oxidation
What are 2 of the best known iron bacteria?
- Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
- Leptospirillum ferrooxidans
What is the electron donor for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans?
Fe2+