Bacterial Metabolism

Metabolism

Sum up all the chemical processes that

occur within a cell
1. Anabolism: Synthesis of more complex
compounds and use of energy
2. Catabolism: Break down a substrate and
capture energy

Overview of cell metabolism

Bacterial Metabolism

Autotroph:
Photosynthetic bacterial
Chemoautotrophic bacteria

Heterotroph:
Parasite
Saprophyte

Energy Generating Patterns

After Sugars are made or obtained, they are

the energy source of life.
Breakdown of sugar(catabolism) different
ways:
Aerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration
Fermentation

Photosynthesis
(1) Higher plants

Light reaction:
Photolysis of H2O produce ATP and NADPH
Two photosystem (I & II)
Dark fixation: use the production from light
reaction (ATP and NADPH) to fix CO2
Reaction:
6CO2 + 6H2O -----> C6H12O6 +6O2
(Light and chloroplast)

Bacteria Photosynthesis
i. Only one photosystem can not do
photolysis of H2O
ii. H2O not the source of electron donor
iii. O2 never formed as a product
iv. Bacterial chlorophyll absorb light at longer
W.L.
v. Similar CO2 fixation
vi. Only has cyclic photophosphorylation

How the Bacteria synthesize NADPH

Grow in the presence of the H2 gas

H2 + NADP+ ------------- NADPH2

hydrogenase

Reverse the electron flow in the e- transport

chain

H2S

S + NADP+-------- SO4-2 + NADPH2

Succinate

Fumarate

Simple non-cyclic photosynthetic e- flow

Chlorophyll a and
bacteriochlophyll a(1)

Chlorophyll a and
bacteriochlophyll a(2)

Anoxygenic photosynthesis

Anoxygenic versus
oxygenic phototrophs(2)

Anoxygenic versus
oxygenic phototrophs(1)

Photosynthetic bacteria
(1) Chlorobium-green sulfur bacteria
Use green pigment chlorophyll
Use H2S (hydrogen sulfide), S (sulfur), Na2S2O3 (sodium
thiosulfate) and H2 as e- donors.

(2) Chromatium-purple sulfur bacteria

Use purple carotenoid pigment, same e-donors

(3) Rhodospirillum-non sulfur purple bacteria

Use H2 and other organic compounds such as isopropanol etc,
as e-donors.

Reaction: CO2 + 2H2A -----> CH20 + H20 +2A

A is not O

Chemautotroph

Some bacteria use O2 in the air to oxidize

inorganic compounds and produce ATP
(energy). The energy is enough to convert
CO2 into organic material needed for cell
growth.
Examples:
Thiobacillus (sulfur S)
Nitorsomonas (ammonia)
Nitrobacter (nitrite)

Various genera (hydrogen etc.)

Aerobic respiration
Most efficient way to extract energy from
glucose.
Process: Glycolysis
Kreb Cycle
Electron transport chain
Glycolysis: Several glycolytic pathways
The most common one:
glucose-----> pyruvic acid + 2 NADH + 2ATP

Aerobic respiration

Euk.
glucose -----> G-6-P----->F-6-P----->
... 2 pyruvate +2ATP + 2NADH
Prok.
glucose-----> G-6-P------>F-6-P
Process take places during transport of the
substrate. Phosphate is from
phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)
.....-----> 2 pyruvate +2ATP + 2NADH

Kreb cycle:
Pyruvate + 4NAD + FAD ----->
3CO2 +4NADH + FADH
GDP + Pi -----> GTP
GTP + ADP -----> ATP + GDP

Electron trasnport Chain

4HADH -----> 12 ATP
FADH ------> 2 ATP
Total 15 ATP
Glycolysis -----> 8 ATP

Total equation:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ------> 6CO2 + 6H2O + 38 ATP

Generation of a proton-motive force(1)

Generation of a proton-motive force(2)

Mechanism of ATPase

Anaerobic respiration

Final electron acceptor : never be O2

Sulfate reducer: final electron acceptor is sodium

sulfate (Na2 SO4)
Methane reducer: final electron acceptor is CO2
Nitrate reducer : final electroon acceptor is
sodium nitrate (NaNO3)

O2/H2O coupling is the most oxidizing, more energy

in aerobic respiration.
Therefore, anaerobic is less energy efficient.

Fermentation
Glycosis:
Glucose ----->2 Pyruvate + 2ATP + 2NADH

Fermentation pathways
a. Homolactic acid F.
P.A -----> Lactic Acid
eg. Streptococci, Lactobacilli
b.Alcoholic F.
P.A -----> Ethyl alcohol
eg. yeast

c. Mixed acid fermentation

P.A -----> lactic acid
acetic acid
H2 + CO2
succinic acid
ethyl alcohol
eg. E.coli and some enterbacter
d. Butylene-glycol F.
P.A -----> 2,3, butylene glycol
eg. Pseudomonas
e. Propionic acid F.
P.A -----> 2 propionic acid
eg. Propionibacterium

Alternative energy generating

patterns(1)

Alternative energy generating

patterns(2)

Alternative energy generating

patterns(3)

Alternative energy generating

patterns(4)

Energy/carbon classes of organisms

Chlorophyll a and
bacteriochlophyll a(3)

Comparison of reaction centers

of anoxyphototrophs