Metabolism and Energy Production in Microbial Cells

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to microbial metabolism, including mechanisms of energy production and metabolic pathways.

Metabolism

The total sum of chemical reactions in a cell that includes biosynthesis and energy-harvesting processes.

Anabolism

The set of metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units, requiring energy.

Catabolism

The set of metabolic pathways that break down molecules into smaller units to release energy.

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

The energy currency of the cell, used to store and transfer energy within cells.

Aerobic respiration

A process of cellular respiration where oxygen is used as the terminal electron acceptor, producing energy.

Anaerobic respiration

A process of cellular respiration that occurs without oxygen and uses other molecules as terminal electron acceptors.

Fermentation

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

Electron transport chain (ETC)

A series of proteins in the membrane that transfer electrons from NADH and FADH2 to generate a proton motive force.

Photophosphorylation

The process of generating ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate using the energy of light.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

Feedback inhibition

A regulatory mechanism where the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step, thereby controlling the pathway's output.

Precursor metabolites

Intermediate molecules produced in catabolism that can be used in anabolic reactions to synthesize macromolecules.

Coenzymes

Organic non-protein molecules that assist enzymes in catalyzing reactions by transferring certain molecules or electrons.

Redox reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons, where one molecule is oxidized and another is reduced.

Substrate phosphorylation

A method of ATP generation that involves transferring a phosphate group directly from a substrate to ADP.

Oxidative phosphorylation

The generation of ATP through the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis, using energy released from electron transfer.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.

Krebs cycle (TCA cycle)

A key metabolic pathway that oxidizes acetyl-CoA to CO2, generating ATP, NADH, and FADH2.

Proton motive force

The electrochemical gradient generated by the electron transport chain used to drive ATP synthesis.

Exoenzymes

Enzymes secreted by microorganisms that help them degrade larger molecules outside of their cells.