Lecture 3B: Energy Production and Primary Metabolism: Respiration

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to energy production, respiration, and metabolic processes discussed in the lecture.

REDOX REACTIONS

Reactions involving the transfer of electrons where low-potential electron donors are oxidized, and electrons are transferred to high-potential electron acceptors.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

A series of protein complexes and other molecules that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors via redox reactions.

Proton Motive Force (PMF)

The force that promotes the movement of protons across the membrane, created by the electron transport chain.

Chemoorganotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy from organic carbon sources.

Chemolithotrophs

Microbes that conserve energy from the oxidation of inorganic electron donors.

Aerobic Respiration

A type of respiration that uses oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor, conserving more energy than anaerobic respiration.

Anaerobic Respiration

A type of respiration that uses electron acceptors other than oxygen, allowing organisms to survive in low-oxygen environments.

NADH/NAD+

An electron carrier involved in redox reactions, with a redox midpoint potential at -320 mV.

FADH2/FAD

Another electron carrier, with a redox midpoint potential at +31 mV.

Chemiosmotic Force

The potential energy stored as a combination of pH and electrical gradients across the membrane, driving ATP synthesis.

Sox System

A system for the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds, described in Paracoccus pantotrophus, involving multiple genes and enzymes.

Anammox Reaction

A process where ammonia is oxidized using nitrite as the electron acceptor to yield dinitrogen gas.

Ammonia Monooxygenase

An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of ammonia in nitrifying bacteria.

Hydroxylamine Oxidoreductase

An enzyme involved in the conversion of hydroxylamine to nitrite in nitrifying bacteria.

Bacterial Electron Transport Chain

A branched network of electron transport proteins that allows variation in electron transfer routes under different growth conditions.

Proton Conduction Pathway

Suggested mechanism by which lipid headgroups in membranes facilitate proton movement during respiration.

Ladderane Lipids

Unique fatty acids with multiple cyclobutene rings bonded to glycerol, found in the membranes of anammoxosomes.