Microbial physiology Flashcards
Function of cell membrane
Barrier, transporting nutrients and energy production
What colour are gram negative cells?
Light pink
What colour are gram positive cells?
Dark violet
Examples of gram positive bacteria
Bacillus
Clostridium
Listeria
Staphylococcus
What is the basic building block of the cell wall?
Peptidoglycan
What else makes up the cell wall?
NAG and NAM
How can peptidoglycan be broken down?
Lysozyme cuts bonds between sugars
What does LPS consist of?
Lipid A, polysaccharide and O-antigen side chains
What does LPS stand for?
Lipopolysaccharide
Role of LPS
Surface antigenic determination of gram negative cells and is highly toxic
Anabolism vs Catabolism
Building up vs Breaking down
What are microaerophiles?
Require oxygen but lower than atmospheric pressure
What is glycolysis?
Converting glucose into pyruvate
What is gained from glycolysis?
2ATP and 1NADH
What does pyruvate become after glycolysis?
CO2
H2O
Lactic acid
Ethanol
What bacteria create spores?
Gram positive
What are prototrophy bacteria?
Synthesise all their nutrients and metabolic requirements from inorganic material and glucose
What do prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes do to kill off competition?
Produce substances
