Chapter 5  Microbial Metabolism

 

Metabolism – the sum of all chemical reactions within a living organism

 

A.  Catabolism

Complex molecules à simple molecules + energy

Exergonic – release energy

Ex:  Sugar à CO2 + H2O + energy

 

B.  Anabolism (biosynthesis)

Simple molecules + energy à complex molecules

Endergonic – requires energy input

Ex:  Amino acids + energy à protein

 

 

Coupled reactions

Catabolic and anabolic reactions linked together

DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enzymes

 

A.  Collision theory

Atoms and molecules collide with each other and form bonds or break bonds

The higher the temperature, the faster the molecules travel, the more collisions, the faster the reaction

Activation energy – the energy required for a chemical reaction

 

B.  Enzymes and Chemical reactions

Enzyme –

Biological catalyst

A substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme and a reaction is catalyzed

Acts on a specific substrate

Enzyme is not consumed by reaction

Lowers activation energy of a reaction

à speeds up reaction (Fig. 5.2)

 

C.  Naming enzymes

Usually chemical they act on + “-ase”

Ex:  Lipase, protease


D.  Enzyme components

Most enzymes consist of 2 components

1.  Apoenzyme – protein portion

2.  Cofactor  - nonprotein component

Necessary to activate apoenzyme

Ex:  Iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium

Holoenzyme = apoenzyme + cofactor (Fig. 5.3)

 

Coenzyme 

Cofactors that are organic molecules

Many are derived from vitamins

Ex:  NAD+, NADP+, FAD (used in cellular respiration and photosynthesis)

 

E.  The mechanism of enzymatic action (Fig. 5.4)

1.  The substrate contacts the active site on the enzyme

2.  An enzyme-substrate complex forms

3.  Substrate transformed into products

4.  Products are released

5.  The enzyme is recovered unchanged

 

F.  Factors that influence enzymatic activity

 

1.  Temperature (Fig. 5.5a)

As temp. increases, enzyme activity increases to optimal temp., then decreases due to denaturation

 

Denaturation of proteins (Fig 5.6)

Hydrogen bonds broken

Protein shape altered

Loses enzymatic activity

Usually due to heat or pH extremes

 

2.  pH (Fig 5.5b)

Most enzymes have optimum pH where enzyme activity is greatest

Above or below this optimum, the enzyme activity decreases

 

3.  Substrate Concentration (Fig. 5.5c)

As substrate concentration increases, enzyme activity increases up to a point, then saturation occurs

 

4.  Inhibitors (Fig.5.7)

Combine with enzymes and prevent them from functioning

Can be reversible or irreversible

 

a.  Competitive inhibitors

Inhibitors that bind with the active site of enzymes

Compete with the substrate for the active sites


b.  Noncompetitive inhibitors

Inhibitors that bind with the allosteric site (site other than the active site) of an enzyme

Binding causes the active site to change shape

Enzyme loses activity

 

 

Energy Production

 

A.  Oxidation-reduction reactions

Oxidation – Removal of electrons from an atom

Reduction – Gain of electrons

 

Oxidation and reduction reaction are always paired

à redox reactions (Fig. 5.9)

H+ is usually transported along with electron (Fig. 5.10)

 

B.  The generation of ATP

ADP + P + energy à ATP

 

Phosphorylation – The addition of a phosphate (P) to a compound

 

1.  Substrate level phosphorylation

P is directly transferred from a substrate to ADP

Occurs in glycolysis and Krebs cycle

Ex:  C-C-C-P + ADP à C-C-C + ATP

 

2.  Oxidative Phosphorylation

Electrons are passed through an electron transport chain to oxygen

Occurs only in the electron transport chain

Energy released is used to phosphorylate ADP

 

3.  Photophosphorylation

Uses light energy to phosphorylate ADP

Occurs only in photosynthetic cells


Carbohydrate Catabolism – carbohydrates oxidized to generate ATP

Overview of respiration and fermentation (Fig. 5.11)

 

A.  Cellular Respiration

Final electron acceptor is an inorganic molecule

Uses an electron transport chain

 

1.  Aerobic Respiration

Final electron acceptor is oxygen (O2)

 

a.  Glycolysis (Fig. 5.12)

Oxidation of one glucose to two pyruvic acid

2 ATP produced by substrate level phosphorylation

b.  Pyruvic acid decarboxylation (Preparation step, Transition reaction) (Fig. 5.13)

Pyruvic acid loses a C and becomes Acetyl-CoA

 

c.  Krebs Cycle (Fig 5.13)

Cyclic series of reactions

2 ATP produced by substrate level phosphorylation

 

d.  Electron Transport Chain (System) and Chemiosmosis

 

(1)  Electron transport system (Fig. 5.14)

A series of electron carriers attached to a membrane

In eukaryotes à mitochondrial membrane

In prokaryotes à plasma membrane

Process

(a) Electrons transported to chain by

NADH and FADH2

NADH à 3 ATP

FADH2 à 2 ATP

(b)  Electrons are transferred down the chain by oxidation and reduction reactions, releasing energy at each step.

 

(2)  Chemiosmosis

Mechanism that uses a proton gradient across a membrane to generate ATP (Fig 5.15)

Process

(a)  Energy from electron transport chain is used to pump protons (H+) out of membrane

(b)  Proton gradient is created

(c)  Protons flow back through ATP synthase, generating ATP by oxidative phosphorylation (Fig. 5.16)


Summary of Aerobic Respiration

 

C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 38 ADP +38 P à 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 38 ATP

 

(Fig. 5.17) Be able to draw and label

DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Anaerobic Respiration

Final electron acceptor is an inorganic substance (nitrate, sulfate, carbonate) other than oxygen

 

Process of anaerobic respiration

a.  Glycolysis

b.  Pyruvic acid decarboxylation

c.  Krebs cycle

d.  Electron transport chain and chemiosmosis


Only parts of the Krebs cycle and elect. trans. chain are used, therefore, ATP yield is not as high as aerobic respiration

 

Ex:  Pseudomonas and Bacillus can use nitrate ion as the final electron acceptor

 

B.  Fermentation (Fig. 5.18)

Final electron acceptor is an organic molecule

Does not use an electron transport chain

 

1.  Types of fermentation

 

a.  Lactic acid fermentation (Fig. 5.19)

(1)  Glycolysis

(2)  Pyruvic acid reduction

à produces 2 molecules of lactic acid

 

Ex:  Streptococcus and Lactobacillus

àused to make yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles

 

b.  Alcohol Fermentation (Fig. 5.19)

(1)  Glycolysis

(2)  Pyruvic acid conversion

à produce acetaldehyde and CO2

(3)  Acetaldehyde reduction

à produce ethanol

 

Ex:  Saccharomyces (yeast)

à used to make alcoholic beverages & bread

 

2.  Classification of organisms based on fermentation products

a.  Homolactic (or homofermentative)

Produce only lactic acid

b.  Heterolactic (or heterofermentative)

Produce lactic acid as well as other acids or alcohols

 

3.  Using fermentation to identify bacteria (Fig. 5.23)

Fermenters produce acid and/or gas

 

 

Lipid and Protein Catabolism (Fig. 5.21)

Lipids and proteins are enzymatically converted to molecules that can then enter glycolysis or Krebs cycle


Photosynthesis

6CO2  + 12H2O + light energy à C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6H2O

 

A.  Two stages of photosynthesis

 

1.  Light-dependent reactions (light reactions) (Fig. 5.24)

ADP + P + light energy à ATP + NADPH

Occurs by photophosphorylation

 

a.  Light energy absorbed by chlorophyll, exciting electrons

b.  Electrons pass down an electron transport chain releasing

energy

c.  Energy used to produce ATP and NADPH 

 

2.  Light independent reactions (dark reactions) (Fig. 5.25)

Carbon fixation occurs

CO2 à sugars

 

B.  Photosynthesis in various organisms

 

1.  Plants and algae

Use chlorophyll a found in thylakoid membranes in chloroplasts

 

2.  Cyanobacteria

Use chlorophyll a found in thylakoid membranes in cytoplasm (no chloroplasts)

 

3.  Photosynthetic bacteria

Use bacteriochlorophyll found in thylakoid membranes in cytoplasm (no chloroplasts)

 

 

Classification of organisms based on energy and carbon source

 

A.  Energy sources

1.  Phototrophs – obtain energy from sunlight (photosynthesis)

2.  Chemotrophs – obtain energy from inorganic or organic compounds

 

B.  Carbon sources

1.  Autotrophs – obtain carbon from CO2

2.  Heterotrophs – obtain carbon from organic compound


Classification combining energy and carbon sources

 

A.  Photoautotrophs

Ex:  cyanobacteria, algae, plants

 

B.  Photoheterotrophs

Ex:  Green nonsulfur bacteria, purple nonsulfur bacteria

 

C.  Chemoautotrophs

Ex:  Iron oxidizing bacteria

 

D.  Chemoheterotrophs

Ex:  most bacteria, protozoa, fungi, animals

 

 

The integration of metabolism (Fig 5.32)

Anabolism (biosynthesis) and catabolism use the same reversible pathways


Chapter 6  Microbial growth

 

The Requirements for growth

 

A.  Physical requirements

 

1.  Temperature

Microbial classification based on temperature of optimum growth

 

a.  Psychrophiles

Optimum growth 0 – 20° C & can grow at 0° C

Found in deep ocean or polar regions

 

b.  Psychrotrophs

Optimum growth 20 - 30° C, but can grow at 0° C

Often responsible for food spoilage in refrigerator (4° C)

 

c.  Mesophiles

Optimum growth 20 – 40° C, cannot grow at 0° C

Most common type of microbe

Includes most spoilage and disease microbes

 

d.  Thermophiles

Optimum growth 40 – 80° C

Found in hot springs

 

e.  Hyperthermophiles

Optimum growth 80 - 110°C

All members of Archaea

In hot springs and deep sea hydrothermal vents

 

2.  pH

 

a.  Review of pH

0 –14

pH = 7  à neutral

pH < 7  à acidic

pH > 7  à  alkali (basic)

Buffer = chemical that resists change in pH of solution

 

b.  Classification of bacteria based on pH of optimum growth

(1)  Neutrophiles à pH 6 – 8

Most bacteria

(2)  Acidophiles  à  pH < 6

Ex:  Thiobacillus

Found in acid runoff from coal mines

(3)  Alkalophiles  à  pH > 8

Found in alkaline lakes and soils


c.  Inhibiting action of non-optimum pH

à Destroys (denatures) enzymes in cytoplasm and plasma mem.

High or low pH can be used to preserve foods

Ex:  sauerkraut, pickles, cheese

 

3.  Osmotic pressure

 

a.  Effects of osmotic pressure

(1)  Hypotonic solutions

Rigid cell wall protects bacteria

(2)  Hypertonic solutions (Fig. 6.4)

Most microbes undergo plasmolysis (cell mem. shrinks)

Hypertonic environments used to preserve foods

Ex:  Salted meats, honey

 

b.  Classification based on osmotic pressure requirements

(1)  Obligate halophiles

Require high salt concentrations (~30%)

Found in Dead Sea

(2)  Facultative halophiles

Optimum growth at low salt conditions, but can tolerate higher salt concentrations

 

B.  Chemical requirements

 

1.  CHNOPS

 

2.  Trace elements – iron, copper, molybdenum, zinc

 

3.  Oxygen (Table 6.1)

 

Classifications based on oxygen requirements

 

a.  Obligate aerobes

Require oxygen

 

b.  Facultative anaerobes

Grow better with oxygen, but can grow in anaerobic environment

 

c.  Obligate Anaerobes

Harmed by oxygen

 

d.  Aerotolerant anaerobes

Tolerate oxygen, but do not use it

 

e.  Microaerophiles

Require narrow range of oxygen, less than in air


4.  Organic Growth Factors

Compounds that organism cannot synthesize, must get from environment

Ex:  Vitamins, amino acids

 

 

Culture media 

 

A.  All media are divided into two main groups

 

1.  Chemically defined media

Exact chemical composition is known

Ex:  X g glucose, Y g amino acid, ….

 

2.  Complex media

Made from extracts of yeast, meat, plants

Exact chemical composition varies

 

B.  Special Culture techniques

 

1.  Anaerobic chambers and media (Fig. 6.5)

Chemically remove oxygen from environment or media

 

2.  Candle jars (Fig 6.7a)

Lit candle adds CO2 to environment for capnophiles (microbes that grow better at high CO2 concentration)

 

C.  Special types of media

 

1.  Selective Media

Selects some bacteria, inhibits others

Ex:  MacConkey agar selects Gram negative bacteria, inhibits Gram pos.

 

2.  Differential media

Differentiates different microbes based on appearance

Ex:  Blood agar,

Streptococcus pyogenes will produce a clear ring around colonies

 

3.  Enrichment culture

Similar to selective media à selects some but inhibits others

But designed to increase small numbers to detectable levels


The Growth of bacterial cultures

 

A.  Bacterial Division –

à most bacteria use binary fission (divide into two equal cells)

(Fig. 6.11)

 

B.  Generation time

à time required for a cell to divide (and its population double)

 

C.  Logarithmic representation of bacterial populations (Fig. 6.12, 6.13)

Bacterial growth is logarithmic (exponential)

 

D.  Phases of growth

DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Lag

No growth

Period of adjustment

 

2.  Log

Logarithmic growth

Most metabolically active

 

3.  Stationary

Nutrients decline, wastes build

Bacteria dying as fast as produced

Many cells stop dividing

 

4.  Death

Conditions deteriorate

Live cell numbers decrease logarithmically


Chapter 7  The Control of Microbial Growth

 

Terminology of Microbial control

 

A.  Sterilization

Destruction of all forms of microbial life, inc. endospores

Usually by heating or radiation (gamma rays)

 

B.  Commercial sterilization

Heating

Enough heat to destroy endospores of C. botulinum, but not other endospores

Food quality not degraded

 

C.  Disinfection

Destroys vegetative non-endospore forming pathogens on inert surface

Use chemicals, UV, boiling water, or steam

 

D.  Antisepsis

Destroy vegetative pathogens on living tissue

 

E.  Degerming

Mechanical removal rather than killing

Ex: alcohol swab before shot

 

F.  Sanitization

Lowers microbial counts on eating and drinking utensils

 

 

Types of treatments

 

A.  “-cide”   

Kills microorganisms

Ex: fungicide

 

B.  “-stat” or “-stasis”  

Inhibits growth

Once gone, growth resumes

Ex:  Bacteriostat

 

 

Factors that influence antimicrobial effectiveness

 

A.  Number of microbes

The more start with, the longer to eliminate

(Fig 7.1b)


B.  Environmental influences

1.  Organic matter à inhibits chemical antimicrobials (blood, vomit, feces)

2.  Temperature à disinfectant work better when warm

3.  Fats and proteins à protect microbes

4.  Acidic conditions à help in disinfection

 

C.  Time of exposure

Longer the exposure à the more effective the treatment

 

D.  Microbial characteristics

Some microbes more resistant to others due to physical structure

Ex:  endospores more resistant than vegetative cells

 

 

Actions of Microbial Control agents 

 

A.  Alterations of Membrane Permeability

Damage plasma membrane à cytoplasm leaks out

 

B.  Damage to proteins

Damage enzymes à hinder cellular reactions

 

C.  Damage to nucleic acids

Damage RNA or DNA à cell can’t replicate or produce enzymes

 

 

Physical methods of Microbial Control

 

A.  Heat

Denatures microbial enzymes

 

Types of heat treatments

 

1.  Moist heat

à breaks H-bonds in protein à coagulation

Water or steam transfers heat more effective than dry heat (hand in 100 °C oven vs. in boiling water)

Examples:

a.  Boiling

b.  Autoclave (15 psi, 121 C for 15 min) (Fig 7.2)

Kills all organisms and endospores

But steam has to actually contact

à dry material in aluminum foil won’t sterilize


2.  Pasteurization

Mild heating

Kills pathogens

Lowers overall microbial numbers à retard spoilage

63° C for 30 min.}

72° C for 15 sec.} equivalent treatments

 

3.  Dry heat sterilization

Kills by oxidation effects

Examples

a.  Flaming

b.  Incineration

c.  Hot air sterilization (170° C for 2 hrs in oven)

 

B.  Filtration (Fig. 7.4)

0.45 mm filters will filter out bacteria, but not viruses

 

C.  Low Temperatures

Refrigeration (0 - 7° C) is bacteriostatic on most bacteria

 

D.  Desiccation

Bacteria won’t grow, but most remain viable

Neisseria gonorrhea ~ 1 hour

Mycobacterium tuberculosis ~ months

endospores ~ centuries

 

E.  Osmotic pressure

High concentration of salts and sugars à hypertonic solutions

Fungi more resistant than bacteria à mold on fruit

 

F.  Radiation (Fig. 7.5)

 

1.  Ionizing radiation

Higher energy à gamma rays, x-rays

Ionizes water à O2-  is toxic

Hits DNA