Anabolism and Microbial Metabolism

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers concepts of anabolism, catabolism, metabolic coenzymes, biosynthetic requirements, and energy-driven processes in bacteria like flagellar motility and nitrogen fixation.

Anabolism

The synthesis of complex macromolecules for cellular components from simple compounds, a process that is energy-expensive.

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex molecules to trap energy ($ATP$), reducing power, and precursor metabolites.

Precursor metabolites

Intermediates from central metabolism pathways, such as Glycolysis/ED, TCA, and the pentose-phosphate pathway, used as starting materials for biosynthesis.

NAD(H)

A coenzyme used for catabolic reactions where $NAD^+$ serves as an oxidizing agent.

NADP(H)

A coenzyme used for anabolic reactions, such as lipid synthesis, where it acts as a reducing agent.

Prototrophs

Organisms that have no requirement for building blocks and only need Carbon, energy, and minerals for growth.

Auxotrophs

Organisms that require one or many specific building blocks in addition to Carbon, energy, and minerals for growth.

Calvin cycle

A $CO_2$ fixation pathway used by autotrophs to fix inorganic carbon, requiring $18\,ATP$ and $12\,NADPH$.

Carboxysomes

Specific cellular sites in some bacteria where $CO_2$ fixation occurs.

Gluconeogenesis

The synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors like pyruvate, lactic acid, glycerol, and amino acids; it shares $6$ enzymes with glycolysis and has $4$ irreversible steps.

Nitrogenase

An enzyme used by bacteria to fix atmospheric $N_2$ into $NH_3$, a process requiring $16\,ATP$.

Glutamate dehydrogenase

The enzyme that incorporates $NH_3$ into $\alpha\text{-ketoglutaric acid}$ to form glutamate using $NADPH$.

Glutamate synthase

An enzyme used for nitrogen assimilation when $NH_3$ levels are low, producing $2$ glutamate from glutamine, $\alpha\text{-ketoglutaric acid}$, and $NADPH$.

Flagellar motility

Movement driven by the entry of $H^+$ into the cell through the flagellar basal body rotor, powered by the proton motive force.

Active transport

The movement of substances across a membrane that utilizes $ATP$ to accomplish the transport.

Escherichia coli Biosynthesis (Protein)

According to Table 11.1, the synthesis of proteins in an $E. coli$ cell requires $2,120,000$ molecules of $ATP$ per second.