Microbial Biochemistry Overview

Overview of Microbial Biochemistry

Study of biochemical processes in microorganisms.
Involves metabolism, enzymology, and molecular biology of microbes.

Key Concepts

Metabolism
- Catabolism: Breakdown of complex molecules to release energy.
  - Example: Glycolysis, Krebs cycle.
- Anabolism: Synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.
  - Example: Protein synthesis, nucleotide biosynthesis.
Enzymes
- Biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions.
- Characteristics:
  - Specificity: Each enzyme acts on a specific substrate.
  - Active site: Region where substrate binds and reaction occurs.
  - Cofactors: Non-protein molecules that assist enzyme activity (e.g., metal ions, vitamins).
Metabolic Pathways
- Series of reactions in a cell.
- Linear pathways: Straightforward sequence of reactions.
- Cyclic pathways: Recycles compounds (e.g., Krebs cycle).
- Branching pathways: Divergence into multiple pathways for different products.
Energy Production
- Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): Main energy currency of cells.
- Substrate-level phosphorylation: Direct transfer of phosphate to ADP.
- Oxidative phosphorylation: Uses electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.
Microbial Growth
- Defined by growth curve: lag, log, stationary, and death phases.
- Factors affecting growth: temperature, pH, oxygen, nutrients, and moisture.
Genetic Material
- Microbes possess DNA or RNA as genetic material.
- Genome organization varies (e.g., circular in bacteria, linear in some viruses).
- Horizontal gene transfer: Mechanisms include transformation, transduction, and conjugation.
Microbial Diversity
- Includes bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and protozoa.
- Classification based on metabolism (e.g., autotrophs, heterotrophs).
Applications of Microbial Biochemistry
- Biotechnology: Production of antibiotics, enzymes, and biofuels.
- Environmental microbiology: Bioremediation and nutrient cycling.
- Medicine: Understanding pathogenic mechanisms and antibiotic development.

Techniques in Microbial Biochemistry

Chromatography: Separation of biomolecules.
Spectroscopy: Analyzing molecular structure and concentration.
Electrophoresis: Separating biomolecules based on size and charge.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): Amplifying DNA sequences for study.

Key Terms

Metabolome: The complete set of metabolites within a cell.
Proteome: The entire set of proteins expressed by a cell.
Lipidome: The complete lipid profile of a cell.
Transcriptome: The full range of messenger RNA molecules expressed.

Overview of Microbial Biochemistry

Exploration of biochemical processes within microorganisms, incorporating metabolism, enzymology, and molecular biology.

Key Concepts

Metabolism encompasses:
- Catabolism: Energy release through breakdown of complex molecules (e.g., glycolysis, Krebs cycle).
- Anabolism: Energy-consuming synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones (e.g., protein synthesis, nucleotide biosynthesis).
Enzymes function as biological catalysts:
- Enzyme specificity allows for action on specific substrates.
- The active site is crucial for substrate binding and reaction facilitation.
- Cofactors, such as metal ions and vitamins, are vital for enhancing enzyme activity.
Metabolic Pathways consist of:
- Linear pathways: Direct sequences of chemical reactions.
- Cyclic pathways: Compounds are recycled (e.g., Krebs cycle).
- Branching pathways: Diverge into varied reactions, producing different end products.
Energy Production is centered around:
- Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy carrier in cells.
- Substrate-level phosphorylation involves phosphate transfer to ADP.
- Oxidative phosphorylation leverages the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis for energy generation.
Microbial Growth follows a defined growth curve with:
- Phases including lag, log (exponential), stationary, and death.
- Optimal growth factors involve temperature, pH, oxygen levels, nutrients, and moisture availability.
Genetic Material in microbes:
- Can consist of either DNA or RNA, with diverse genome organization (circular in bacteria, linear in some viruses).
- Horizontal gene transfer occurs through transformation, transduction, and conjugation.
Microbial Diversity comprises:
- Various groups such as bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, classified by metabolic modes (e.g., autotrophs vs. heterotrophs).
Applications of Microbial Biochemistry include:
- Biotechnology: Involves production of antibiotics, enzymes, and biofuels.
- Environmental Microbiology: Focuses on bioremediation and nutrient cycling.
- Medicine: Aids in understanding pathogenic mechanisms and the development of antibiotics.

Techniques in Microbial Biochemistry

Chromatography: Essential for separating different biomolecules.
Spectroscopy: A method for analyzing molecular structure and concentration.
Electrophoresis: Separates biomolecules based on size and charge for analysis.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): Amplifies specific DNA sequences for further study.

Key Terms

Metabolome: Represents the complete set of metabolites produced within a cell.
Proteome: Comprises all proteins expressed by a particular cell.
Lipidome: Denotes the total lipid profile present in a cell.
Transcriptome: Encompasses the complete range of messenger RNA molecules expressed in a given cell.