BIOD 171 Microbiology - Module 2 Metabolism-Portage What is cellular metabolism?(ANS- a controlled set of biochemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life
What is an enzyme?(ANS- a protein, or group of proteins, that catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions
What is unique about enzymes?(ANS- the enzyme is not consumed during the reaction and can be used repeatedly by the cell
What is a cofactor?(ANS- a small chemical component, usually metal ions, that assist enzymes during the catalysis reactions
Do cofactors serve as regulators of chemical reactions?(ANS- Yes
In the absence of the proper cofactor what happens?(ANS- enzymes are inactive
In the presence of the proper cofactor what happens?(ANS- enzymes are active
- / 3
In order to produce sufficient levels of energy what must microorganisms do?(ANS- microorganisms must break down complex nutrients into smaller, manageable (and useful) subunits
What 3 things must enzymes break down into smaller subunits?(ANS- Enzymes must break down proteins, lipids and polysaccharides into their smaller building-block molecules
Fats or lipids get broken down into what?(ANS- glycerol/fatty acids
Most metabolic processes can be classified as either of what 2 things?(ANS- catabolism or anabolism
What is catabolism?(ANS- the process of breaking down larger molecules into useful energy sources
What is anabolism?(ANS- the building up or biosynthesis of macromolecules from smaller molecular units into larger complexes
The anabolic process is often used during what?(ANS- growth and repair phases of the cell.
- / 3
What would happen to cells without enzymes?(ANS- Without enzymes and their ability to increase the rate of a specific chemical reaction, these reactions would take too long and exhaust too much energy. If a cell runs out of energy before the necessary reactions conclude, it dies.
What is the most widely used form of energy in the cells?(ANS- adenosine triphosphate or ATP
Compare ATP to ADP (ANS- ATP has energy to donate while ADP can accept energy (phosphate group) to become ATP
How does ATP work and help give the cell energy?(ANS- By donating available phosphate groups, ATP transfers energy from catabolic (breaking down) reactions to be used for anabolism (building up). This process of donating and/or accepting energy is what fuels a cell to carry out the necessary biochemical reactions for survival.
The way in which microbes produce ATP, specifically the starting source of electrons, tells us what?(ANS- It can also be used as a means to further differentiate and characterize microorganisms
How does a Phototroph acquire energy?(ANS- It acquires energy from photons of light to generate ATP from ADP
- / 3