Microbial Nutrition Flashcards
Photosynthesis occurs in the presence of what in eukaryotes?
Chlorophyll
What happens to the chlorophyll in prokaryotes?
It dissolves in the cytoplasm called bacteriochlorophylls
What are the different type of plankton?
Phytoplankton (plant cells), Zooplankton (animal cells), Bacterioplankton (bacteria), Mycoplankton (fungi)
What other microorganisms does photosynthesis occur in?
Unicellular algae and photosynthetic bacteria
Autotrophs
Produce their food and sustain themselves without eating other organisms. Autotrophs are the producers of the biosphere
Heterotrophs
Organisms rely on other organisms for nutrition
Photoautotrophs
Organisms produce organic molecules from inorganic molecules using the energy of light
Chemoautotrophs
Organism obtains nutrients and energy from simple inorganic compounds
What is a result of microbial metabolism?
ability to increase their number of cells to form a characteristic population of organism
What are the requirements for successful growth of microorganisms?
Chemical requirements or microbial nutrition and physical requirements or growth conditions
What are the three classes of nutrients?
Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and trace elements
Macronutrients
elements required in fairly large amounts (H2O, C, O, N, S, P, & H)
Micronutrients
Metals and organic compounds needed in a very small amount (K, Ca, Mg, Fe)
Trace elements
Elements required in trace amounts, necessary for cell functionality ( Mn, Zn, Co, Mo, Ni, Cu)
In macronutrients, what plays a principle role in cell structure?
Carbohydrates (C,H, O), Proteins (C,H,O,N), Fats/lipids (C, H)
What is the major component of amino acids, proteins, DNA, and RNA?
Nitrogen
Bacteria that can obtain N directly from the atmosphere?
Nitrogen fixing bacteria
What are two Nitrogen fixing bacterias?
Rhizobium and Azotobacter
Utilization of O2 during metabolism yields toxic by-products called?
Reactive oxygen Species (ex. superoxide O2 negative, singlet oxygen (1O2) and peroxide (H2O2)
Toxic O2 can be converted to harmless substances if the organism has what?
Catalase (or peroxidase) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)
What does SOD and Catalase break down?
SOD breaks down O2 negative into H2O2 and O2. Catalase breaks down H2O2 into H2O and O2
Facultative
Aerobic microorganism/ Live with or without oxygen but grows better with oxygen
Microaerphiles
Aerobic/ Requires reduced level of oxygen
Aerotolerant anaerobes
Anaerobic microorganism/ can tolerate oxygen but grow better without oxygen
