Lecture 13- Microbial Catabolism

Question 1

Why is the microbial diversity be organized similar to the tree of life?

Answer 1

Because many organism have similar biochemistry and those with differences can be put into another group.

Question 2

Why is a microbe a bioconversion machine?

Answer 2

B/c it takes 1 compound and CONVERTS it into another

Question 3

True or False. Can a microbe do more than 1 bioconversions at once?

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Describe what it means to be a polymicrobial community

Answer 4

A closed system in which multiple microbes feed each other.

Question 5

Why even do bioconversion?

Answer 5

To sustain the other functions of the microbe

Question 6

True or False. Bioconversion is always straight forward.

Answer 6

False, it might produce the end product but through a series of steps that often don’t make sense.

Question 7

True or False. Bioconversion can only take place inside the cell/microbe.

Answer 7

False. Mold’s hyphae secrete enzymes into the external environment and does bioconversion OUTSIDE the cell.

Question 8

What is needed to maintain the cell in the environment?

a) Repair
b) Replication
c) Adaptation
d) Power
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

Answer 8

E

Question 9

True or False. The more stable the environment, the larger the genome.

Answer 9

False. The more stable the environment, the SMALLER the environment.

Question 10

List all of the possible ways for the cell to get power

Answer 10

• Electron transfer
• Charged membrane
• Energy stored in bonds

Question 11

What are the building blocks needed for ALL cells?

Answer 11

• Carbon Source
• Nitrogen Source
• Sources of other elements (S,H,P,O and ions)

Question 12

True or False. ATP is the best energy storage

Answer 12

True.

Question 13

What is an advantage of ATP?

Answer 13

It can be moved and be recharged anywhere in the cell

Question 14

True or False. NAD+/NADH drive the reactions that produce energy

Answer 14

False. They bring the ELECTRONS and that produce energy via REDOX reactions.

Question 15

True or False. The reduction reaction and oxidation reaction can ONLY happen in the SAME place.

Answer 15

False. The 2 reactions can happen in different areas and then shuttles take it to the other part of the reaction (i.e NAD+)

Question 16

Describe the redox tower

Answer 16

The closer the element is bottom of the tower, the more likely it to be REDUCED
The closer the element is top of the tower, the more likely it is to be OXIDIZED

Question 17

True or False. O2 is the strongest electron acceptor.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

What are the 2 different types of electron shuttles?

Answer 18

• Prosthetic group (Attached to enzymes)
• Coenzymes (Losing bind to reaction)
  - NAD+ and NADH

Question 19

What are the common coenzymes forms found in cells?

a) NAD+
b) FADH
c) NADH
d) PMF
e) Two of the above

Answer 19

E, NAD+ and NADH

Question 20

True or False. NAD+ donates electrons and is the reducing agent

Answer 20

False. NADH DONATES electrons and is the reducing agent

Question 21

True or False. NAD+ and NADH are completely destroyed after being used.

Answer 21

False. They are recycled

Question 22

The Proton Motive Force (PMF) is

a) a series of pumps that move protons into the cell
b) a series of pumps that move protons in and produces power
c) a pump

Answer 22

B, PMF takes H+ from a high concentration to a low concentration to create a charged membrane which then creates ATP

Question 23

True or False. PMF is only used to produce ATP

Answer 23

False. It is also drives flagella and pump out toxic drugs

Question 24

What are the 3 ways that we can classify a cell’s metabolism?

Answer 24

• Energy Source
• Electron source
• Carbon Source

Question 25

A microbe that gets its energy from chemicals is a ______ whereas a microbe that gets its energy from sunlight is a ______.

a) Phototroph, Chemotroph
b) Lithotroph, Chemotroph
c) Autotroph, Phototroph
d) Chemotroph, Phototroph

Answer 25

D