Microbial Metabolism and Metabolic Diversity

Flashcards focusing on key vocabulary terms related to microbial metabolism and metabolic diversity.

Anabolism

The biosynthetic phase of metabolism where cells build complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

Catabolism

The metabolic process that breaks down molecules to obtain energy, generally releasing energy.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in all living organisms, produced by cellular respiration and used in various cellular processes.

NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)

An electron carrier that plays a crucial role in redox reactions and cellular respiration by cycling between NAD+ and NADH.

Redox Reactions

Chemical reactions involving the transfer of electrons, consisting of oxidation and reduction processes.

Substrate-Level Phosphorylation

A metabolic process that generates ATP by transferring a phosphate group directly to ADP from a phosphorylated intermediate.

Proton Motive Force (pmf)

The electrochemical gradient generated across a membrane, used to produce ATP via ATP synthase during oxidative phosphorylation.

Fermentation

An anaerobic metabolic process that converts sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol, occurring in the absence of oxygen.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

A series of protein complexes and other molecules that transfer electrons through the membrane, leading to ATP synthesis.

Phototrophy

Metabolism that uses light energy to drive the production of energy-rich compounds.

Chemotrophy

The process of obtaining energy by oxidizing chemical compounds.

Citric Acid Cycle (CAC)

A key metabolic pathway that oxidizes acetyl-CoA to carbon dioxide, generating NADH and FADH2 for the electron transport chain.

Glycolysis

The universal pathway for the breakdown of glucose into pyruvate, occurring in the cytosol and yielding ATP and NADH.

Aerobic Respiration

A metabolic pathway that uses oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor, maximizing ATP production.

Anaerobic Respiration

A metabolic process that uses an electron acceptor other than oxygen, resulting in less ATP production compared to aerobic respiration.

Chemoorganotrophs

Microorganisms that obtain energy and carbon from organic compounds.

Chemolithotrophs

Microorganisms that obtain energy from inorganic compounds, using them in energy-generating reactions.