The following two graphs show the same types of respirometric experiments with t

Question

The following two graphs show the same types of respirometric experiments with two strains of bacteria (A and B). Based on this graph, identify which strain is gram-negative. Briefly explain.

Figure 5: Graph showing the amount of 14CO2 release at the early stage when glucose labeled on
carbon #1 (14C(1)), #3 (14C(3)) and #4 (14C(4) were used to feed two different bacterial strains.
The Y-axis represents the amount of 14CO2 released.

Explanation / Answer

The 14C1 of glucose is aldehyde. Maximum glucose oxidation is use by gram positive bacteria and hence they produce maximum CO2 from carbon one because it has C=O group. After that the hydroxyl group is present in carbon 4 which also converts into CO2. The third carbon is later convert into CO2 oxidative phosphorylation. However in gram negative bacteria the first carbon use in ethanol production therefore it converts later into CO2. Therefore, the strain A is gram negative bacteria. The graph shows less emission from 1st carbon of carbohydrate that occurs in fermentation.

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