Biology 3: Microbiology and Parasitology Course Module PDF

Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao GANI L. ABPI COLLEGE, INCORPORATED Formerly Central Maguindanao Institute Buayan, Datu Piang Maguindanao, 9607 COLLEGE OF EDUCATION A course module in **BIOLOGY 3** **MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY** **ALI, MAYLANI P...

Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao GANI L. ABPI COLLEGE, INCORPORATED Formerly Central Maguindanao Institute Buayan, Datu Piang Maguindanao, 9607 COLLEGE OF EDUCATION A course module in **BIOLOGY 3** **MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY** **ALI, MAYLANI P.** *Presenter* **Ma\'am TAHARA K. ABDULLAH,LPT** *Course Instructor* **LESSON 1** **MICROBIAL METABOLISM** **-ENERGY** **-ENZYMES AND REGULATIONS** **Overview:** Microbial metabolism encompasses the intricate chemical reactions that allow microbes to obtain energy and nutrients, grow, and reproduce. It is a diverse and complex field, with microbes exhibiting a remarkable range of metabolic strategies that underpin their ecological roles and industrial applications. This overview will explore the key principles of microbial metabolism, focusing on the different ways microbes acquire energy and carbon, and highlighting the significance of their metabolic diversity in shaping the biosphere. **Learning outcomes:** At the end of the lesson students are expected to: a. Define what is Microbial Metabolism b. Define and differentiate between catabolism and anabolism; c. Explain the concept of enzyme compartmentalization and its role in regulation **Materials needed:** - Module (hard/soft copy) - Powerpoint presentation - Marker - Whiteboard - Loptop - Projector **Duration**: 1hour **Learning content** A.Definition Microbial metabolism is the sum of all the chemical reactions that occur within a microbe, enabling it to obtain energy and nutrients for growth and reproduction. 1 Microbes exhibit a remarkable diversity in their metabolic strategies, making them essential for various ecological processes and industrial applications. **B. Energy** **Microbial Metabolism and Energy Production** **Microbial metabolism encompasses two primary categories:**  1\. **Catabolism**: This process involves the breakdown of complex organic molecules into simpler components, releasing energy in the process. A portion of this released energy is utilized by the microbe for building its structural components and carrying out vital functions, while the remaining energy is dissipated as heat. 2\. **Anabolism**: This process involves the synthesis of complex structures from simpler organic compounds. Anabolism requires energy for the formation of these complex structures. **Microorganisms employ diverse strategies to capture energy, leading to their classification** **into**: **a) Phototrophic Microorganisms**: These organisms harness energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is captured from the environment and converted into glucose, with the energy for this conversion derived from sunlight. **b) Chemotrophic Microorganisms**: These organisms obtain energy by breaking down organic or inorganic compounds from their environment. \- **Chemoorganotrophs**: These microbes break down organic compounds, utilizing the energy released to carry out their functions. \- **Chemolithotrophs**: These microbes break down inorganic compounds, harnessing the energy released to sustain their activities. **Energy Sources and Mechanisms** Chemotrophic microorganisms utilize two primary mechanisms for breaking down complex compounds to release energy: **1. Respiration or Oxidative Phosphorylation**: This process involves the complete breakdown of chemical compounds into their simplest components, with oxygen or other elements acting as the final electron acceptor. Respiration can be further divided into: **- Aerobic Respiration**: Oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor. **- Anaerobic Respiration**: Oxygen is not the final electron acceptor; instead, other elements such as nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-), carbon dioxide (CO2), ferric iron (Fe+3), or selenate (SeO42-) may act as the final electron acceptor. 2\. **Fermentation**: This process involves the incomplete breakdown of organic compounds, without a final electron acceptor. It is also known as substrate-level phosphorylation, where ATP is generated through the breakdown of complex organic compounds. **C. Enzymes and Regulations** **Microbial Metabolism Enzymes** Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate the rate of chemical reactions within cells without being consumed in the process. They are highly specific, acting on particular substrates to produce specific products. Microbial metabolism relies heavily on a diverse array of enzymes to carry out essential functions, including: **- Catabolic Enzymes**: These enzymes break down complex molecules into simpler units, releasing energy in the process. Examples include: \- Hydrolases: Break down molecules by adding water (e.g., lipases, proteases). \- **Oxidoreductases**: Catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions (e.g., dehydrogenases, oxidases). \- **Lyases**: Break down molecules without adding water (e.g., decarboxylases, aldolases). **- Anabolic Enzymes**: These enzymes synthesize complex molecules from simpler precursors, requiring energy input. Examples include: \- **Ligases**: Join two molecules together (e.g., synthetases). \- **Isomerases**: Rearrange atoms within a molecule (e.g., racemases, epimerases). \- **Transferases**: Transfer functional groups between molecules (e.g., kinases, transaminases). **Regulation of Microbial Metabolism Enzymes** Microbial metabolism is tightly regulated to ensure efficient resource utilization and adaptation to changing environments. Several mechanisms contribute to this regulation: **Enzyme Activity Regulation**: **- Allosteric Regulation**: Involves the binding of regulatory molecules (activators or inhibitors) to sites on the enzyme distinct from the active site. This binding alters the enzyme\'s conformation, affecting its activity. **- Feedback Inhibition**: The end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an enzyme earlier in the pathway, preventing overproduction of the product. **- Covalent Modification**: Involves the addition or removal of chemical groups (e.g., phosphorylation, acetylation) to the enzyme, altering its activity. **Learning Activity:** **Get ¼ sheet of paper and answer the following questions:** 1\. What is Microbial Metabolism? 2\. What is the difference between anabolism and catabolism? **References:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial\_metabolism https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology\_(OpenStax)/08%3A\_Microbial\_Metabolism \- Madigan, M. T., Martinko, J. M., Bender, K. S., Buckley, D. H., & Stahl, D. A. (2018). Brock biology of microorganisms (15th ed.). Pearson Education. \- Nelson, D. L., & Cox, M. M. (2017). Lehninger principles of biochemistry (8th ed.). W. H. Freeman and Company.