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Microbiology Key Concepts and Processes Lecture Exam 2 prep

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  • Compare substrate-level phosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation

    Substrate-level phosphorylation directly synthesizes ATP by transferring a phosphate group to ADP during a metabolic reaction. Oxidative phosphorylation generates ATP using energy from the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.

  • Types of enzyme inhibition: nucleotide analog binding DNA polymerase

    This is an example of competitive inhibition, where the inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site. Another example is methotrexate inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase.

  • Reaction type used by electron transport chain to generate proton motive force

    The electron transport chain uses redox reactions to transfer electrons, pumping protons across the membrane to create a proton motive force that drives ATP synthesis.

  • Primary use of the pentose phosphate pathway

    The pentose phosphate pathway generates NADPH for biosynthesis and produces ribose-5-phosphate for nucleotide synthesis.

  • Difference in ATP yield from FADH2 and NADH in electron transport chain

    NADH enters at Complex I, pumping more protons and yielding about 3 ATP, while FADH2 enters at Complex II, pumping fewer protons and yielding about 2 ATP.

  • Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration

    Aerobic respiration uses oxygen as the final electron acceptor. Anaerobic respiration uses other molecules like nitrate, sulfate, or carbon dioxide as final electron acceptors.

  • Explain fermentation and contrast with cellular respiration

    Fermentation regenerates NAD+ by converting pyruvate into products like lactic acid or ethanol without using an electron transport chain, unlike cellular respiration which fully oxidizes glucose to CO2.

  • Examples of fermentation products

    Common fermentation products include lactic acid, ethanol, acetic acid, and butyric acid.

  • Compare photosynthesis and cellular respiration

    Photosynthesis converts CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen using light energy, while cellular respiration breaks down glucose to produce ATP and CO2. Photosynthesis in eukaryotes occurs in chloroplasts; in prokaryotes, it occurs in the cytoplasmic membrane.

  • Function of carbon in microbes

    Carbon is the primary element in organic molecules and is essential for cell structure and energy storage.

  • Function of nitrogen in microbes

    Nitrogen is required for amino acids, nucleotides, and other cellular components.

  • Four toxic forms of oxygen and neutralizing compounds

    Toxic forms: superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and singlet oxygen. Neutralized by enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase.

  • Distinguish nitrogen fixers and nitrifying prokaryotes

    Nitrogen fixers convert atmospheric N2 to ammonia. Nitrifying prokaryotes oxidize ammonia to nitrite and nitrate.

  • Explain quorum sensing and biofilms

    Quorum sensing is cell-to-cell communication that regulates gene expression based on population density, enabling biofilm formation.

  • Stages of mitosis for a diploid cell with 3 chromosomes

    Mitosis stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase; each stage shows chromosomes aligning, separating, and forming two identical nuclei.

  • Explain schizogony and example organism

    Schizogony is multiple fission producing many daughter cells; used by Plasmodium, the malaria parasite.

  • Compare Trichomonas and Plasmodium

    Trichomonas is a flagellated protozoan causing trichomoniasis; Plasmodium is an apicomplexan causing malaria with complex life cycles.

  • Compare Neurospora and Cryptococcus neoformans

    Neurospora is a filamentous fungus used in genetics; Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast causing cryptococcosis, notable for its capsule.

  • Describe a lichen

    A lichen is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner like algae or cyanobacteria.

  • List diseases transmitted by fleas, lice, flies, mosquitoes, and kissing bugs

    Fleas: plague; Lice: typhus; True flies: sleeping sickness; Mosquitoes: malaria, dengue; Kissing bugs: Chagas disease.