oxygen forms can be toxic!!!! Flashcards
microbes that survive in the presence of O2 do so b/c they produce
enzymes that get rid of TOXIC forms of oxygen
toxic form of oxygen (superoxide)
O2- picked up electron instead of being neutral
how does superoxide occur
can be a byproduct of aeorbic respiration or if it uses O2 or lives in an O2 environment
can superoxide happen even if O2 is not used
yes b/c oxygen is electronegative
superoxide dismutase (SOD)
turns O2- + 2H+ (superoxide) into H2O2 + O2 (hydrogen peroxide + oxyegn)
deals directly with superoxide
must happen FIRST
what two enzymes can a microbe use to deal with hydrogen peroxide
catalase
peroxidase
catalase
2 H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) into 2 H2O + O2 (water and oxygen)
water and oxygen
peroxidase
H2O2 + 2 O2 (hydrogen peroxide) into 2 H2O (water)
water
what are the steps microbes can take to get rid of superoxide
SOD and catalase OR peroxidase
what oxygen-needs cardinal groups produce catalase & SOD
obligate aerobe
facultative anaerobe
aerotolerant anaerobe
what oxygen-needs cardinal group DOES NOT produce catalase & SOD
obligate anaerobe
what oxygen-needs cardinal group produces LOW catalase & SOD
microaerophile