TOOINS TT Lianicalion is needed Q1 (4 pts)- Define the following 2 metabolic rea
ID: 280662 • Letter: T
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TOOINS TT Lianicalion is needed Q1 (4 pts)- Define the following 2 metabolic reaction concepts (part A and B), then explain how the concepts relate to one another (can one be converted into the other? How?) and why they are important to an understanding of environmental microbiology? a) free energy b) reduction potential c) how are they related to one another? And why are they important to understanding of environmental microbiology? Q2 (5 pts) Briefly describe the role of the cell membrane in energy production- then describe each of the terms below and how the cell membrane relates to those terms involved in energy production: electron transport chain proton motive force, ATPase In your description draw a simple illustration of the steps in this process of energy production that includes the cell membrane and shows what is transported in and out of the cell. Q3 (6pts) Below three of the functional groups of microbes involved in microbial nitrogen cycling are listed Denitrifiers ammonia oxidizers nitrite oxidizers A) Which of the above microbes are aerobes and which are anaerobes? B) If biomass (organic carbon) was decomposed (or mineralized), what is the primary form (highest concentration form) of inorganic nitrogen you would expect to be released from the initial decomposition? C) In order for the nitrogen released from biomass decomposition to be converted to N2 gas, what is the correct order of these functional groups activityExplanation / Answer
Q1: a) Free energy or Gibbs free energy: is a thermodynamic term meaning the capacity or ability of the system or microbe to do work a function or metabolism etc
c). Oxidation reduction reactions in a living system are very important which brings about change in the free energy and makes molecules thermodynamically stable or unstable and chemical reactions do happen by losing or gaining electrons hence interconvertible.
Energy change ?G of the reaction can be written as ?G = No of electrons transferred (Faradays constant F = 96,485 J/mol/V or ?100 kJ/mol/V) X the redox potential difference.
In the environmental microbiology molecules in the higher energy forms follow a downhill less energy and more stable molecules with a negative standard reduction potential, and changes in the free energy calculations are very important and helpful to know or design an experiment for a given organic or inorganic molecules/substance requirements to bring in to a stable position or for detoxifying requirements using microbial reactions.
Q2: The selective permeability of biological membranes to small molecules allows the cell to control and maintain its internal composition and also the charge difference and this property can be utilised to produce energy. This process can be explained in the following paragraphs
Mitochondria having double mebrane. The outer mitochondrial membrane fully surrounds the inner membrane, with a small intermembrane space in between. The outer membrane has many protein-based pores that are big enough to allow the passage of ions and molecules as large as a small protein. In contrast, the inner membrane has much more restricted permeability, much like the plasma membrane of a cell. The inner membrane is also loaded with proteins involved in electron transport and ATP synthesis. This membrane surrounds the mitochondrial matrix, where the citric acid cycle produces the electrons that travel from one protein complex to the next in the inner membrane. At the end of this electron transport chain, the final electron acceptor is oxygen, and this ultimately forms water (H20). At the same time, the electron transport chain produces ATP. (This is why the the process is called oxidative phosphorylation.)
Proton motive force: During electron transport, the participating protein complexes push protons from the matrix out to the intermembrane space. This creates a concentration gradient of protons that another protein complex, called ATP synthase, uses to power synthesis of the energy carrier molecule ATP
Q3:
A) denitrifiers: facultative anaerobic means can survive in the presence or absence of oxygen, in the presence of oxygen uses oxygen as electron acceptor. In the absence of oxygen uses nitrate as the primary electron acceptor for respiration.
Ammonia oxidizers: Obligate aerobes means strictly aerobic converts (0xidizes) ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (NO3-)
Nitrate oxidizers: Facultative anerobic, nitrate to nitric oxide and molecular nitrogen N2
B. Inorganic nitrate is the major component
C. Ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (NO3-) to nitrite (NO2-) to nitric oxide (NO) to Nitrogen (N2)
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