Microbio (Exam 1): Organotrophy & Lithotrophy

Respiration relies on what to enable a microbe to store energy as a proton motive force (PMF) used for cellular work?

electron transport system (ETS).

Represents the tendency of a molecule to accept electrons, measured in millivolts.

reduction potential.

More negative reduction potential:

weak e- acceptor; strong e- donor.

More positive reduction potential:

strong e- acceptor; weak e- donor.

Reduction potential is proportional to:

change in Gibb’s free energy (delta G).

Function of redox couples:

combine energetically favorable couples to obtain a negative net delta G.

Components of the ETS:

initial substrate oxidoreductase, mobile electron carriers, and terminal cytochrome oxidase.

Bacteria can change this type of complex used depending on environmental conditions.

terminal cytochrome oxidase.