BACTERIAL

METABOLISM
Dr. M. Ashraf, Ph.D.
(Microbiology & Molecular Genetics)
NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC, Faisalabad
 TERMINOLOGY
Aerobic Respiration: Oxygen, the terminal electron acceptor
Anaerobic Respiration: Inorganic compounds e.g., NO3, SO4,
CO3, Organic fumerate terminal electron acceptors
Fermentation: Organic compound s the terminal electron
acceptors
Oxidation: Loss of electrons
Reduction: Gain of electrons
Oxidizable substrate: The substances with the ability to loss
electrons
Reducible substrate: The substances with ability to gain
electrons

Dr. M. Ashraf, PS, NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC 2

 MICROBIAL RESPIRATION
Common to Macro- & Microorganisms
1. Glycolysis or Embden-Myerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway
2. Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) or citric acid or kreb cycle
3 carboxylic acid groups
3. Respiratory chain (Electron transport or Photo-
phosphorylation)
Unique to microorganisms
4. Entner Doudorf
5. Glyoxylate
6. Fermentations
Dr. M. Ashraf, PS, NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC 3
 RESPIRATION
1. Aerobic Respiration
i. 6 O2 Consumed
ii. 38 ATP Generated
iii. 6CO2 Produced
iv. 6 H2O

C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 38 ADP + 38 Pi --------- 6CO2 + 6 H2O+ 38 ATP

(Glycolysis, TCA, ETS) oxygen the final electron acceptor

2. Glycolysis
Anaerobic process
Converts glucose to Pyruvic acid during first phase of aerobic
respiration
Generates ATP & pyruvic acid anaerobically
 RESPIRATION
Glycolysis
1. Glucose ----------- Glucose-1-phosphate (G-1-P)
2. G-1- P----------- Glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P)
3. G-6-P ----------- Fructose-6-phosphate (F-6-P)
4. F-6-P ----------- F-1,6-P
5. F-1,6-P ----------- Dihydroxy acetone Phosphate +
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (PGA)
6. PGA ----------- 3-Phosphoglyceric acid
7. 3-Phosphoglyceric acid ----------- 1-Phosphoglyceric acid
8. 1-Phosphoglyceric acid-------------- Phospho-Enol-Pyruvate (PEP)
9. PEP ------------- Pyruvic acid

Pyruvic acid
. A central metabolite
. Enters TCA cycle by strictly aerobics and some anaerobic bacteria
Oxidized completely to CO2 + H2O
. Facultative anaerobes -fermentation products
 RESPIRATION
3. Entner Doudroff Pathway
i. Restricted to certain group of bacteria e.g., Pseudomonas sp. &
fungi
ii. G-6-P -first intermediate
iii. Oxidized to 6-Phosphogluconic acid (6-PGA)
iv. 6-PGA converted to unique 2, keto- 3, deoxy-6, Phosphogluconic
acid (KDPG) by dehyration
v. KDPG cleaved into Aldolose
vi. Aldolose yields 1 mole each of Pyruvic acid & Glyceraldehyde-
3-phosphate
vii. 3-Phospho Glyceraldehyde -2 molecules again formed
Glucose
viii. 1 mole Glucose + 1 mole ATP + 2 mole NADH
 RESPIRATION
3. Glyoxylate Pathway
Cyclic process which does not results in conversion of actate to CO 2
is Glyoxylate cycle
i. Variation of TCA cycle bypass of some of the reactions of TCA
ii. Use to synthesize C4 compounds from Acetyle CoA
iii. Yield carbohydrates by alternate pathway
iv. Used mostly by bacteria
fatty acid as sole C source broken in C2 (acetyl CoA)
compounds
v. Enzymes of the pathway -Inducible by acetate
Carbohydrates replaced by acetate or equivalent
vi. Acetyl CoA condensed with Glyoxallic acid to yield Malic acid
vii. Short circuit the TCA cycle b/w Isocitric acid & Malic acid
viii. Conversion of 2 acetyl residues to OAA (for TCA to operate) +
Pyruvic acid from oxidation of C4 acids
ix. Complete Glyoxylate cycle yield 1 mole of succinic acid + 2
moles acetyl CoA ( for regeneration of OAA)
4. Phosphogluconate Pathway (Hexose Monophosphate Shunt)
x. Common in heterotrophic fermentative bacteria
xi. Yields lactic acid , Ethanol and CO
 RESPIRATION
4. Anaerobic Respiration
i. Bacteria evolved anaerobic respiratory system
ii. Use oxygen salts instead of oxygen as electron acceptors
iii.Oxygen containing salts e.g., NO3, SO4, CO3 etc. -Electron acceptor
iv. Examples
a. NO3 & NO2 reduction in E. coli
NiR
NO3- + H2 --------------- NO2- + H2O E. coli
b. Denitrification
Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp. reduce

NO2 (nitrite)

NO (nitric oxide)

N2O (nitrous oxide)

N2 (gaseous N)
 FERMENTATION
5. Fermentation
i. Incomplete oxidation of Glucose and other
carbohydrates in the absence of Oxygen
ii. Organic compounds the terminal electron acceptors
iii. Yield small amount of ATP
iv. Products of pyruvic acid fermentation
a. Alcoholic beverages (bear, wine)
b. Solvents (acetone, butanol)
c. Dairy products, foods, etc.
Fermentations -2 types
i. Acidic Gas
Gas
Acid
Acid Alcohols
Alcohols
ii. Alcoholic FFee
PPrr rrm m Acetone
Acetone
oodd eenntta
uucc attiio
ttss onns
s 2,3-
2,3-

C
Coon
AAm Butyric
Butyric
SSuu eettaabboo

nvvee
miinn aanndd Pyruvic
Pyruvic acid
acid acid
acid
ggaar
mm

rrssiio
oo aa ffaatt
rss

onnss
cciidd
lliittee

ss
ss

Aerobic
Aerobic
respiration
respiration
Acetyl
Acetyl CoA
CoA
to
to
TCA
TCA
5. Fermentation
I. Alcoholic fermentations Yeasts, Clostridia
II. Acidic fermentation e.g.,
Lactic acid Lactobacillus sp. Streptococcus sp.

Homolactic acid Lactic acid souring of milk

Heterolactic acid Leuconostoc sp.

Lactic acid + acetic acid + CO2

Acetic acid Acetobacter sp.

Mixed acid fermentation Enterobacteriacea (E. Coli,

Shigella sp. Salmonella sp.)
Lactic acid + acetic acid + Succininc acid + Formic acid

Propionic acid Propionibacterium sp.

Formic acid ----------- CO2 + H2 (Enteric bacteria, Proteus

sp. in intestine)

Butyric acid Clsotridium sp.

2,3-butanediol neutral product Enterobacter sp.
 BACTERIAL FERMENTATIONS
Ethyl
Ethyl alcohol
alcohol
cciidd TCA
22

TCA
CCOO

a
cc a
ii
++

iioonn ciidd C
COO22 Acetic
Acetic acid
acid
r oopp aac
P r c
iic Co
Co As
As
P i n
n + CO
CO22
c
c
cci +
SSuu H
H22
Pyruvic acid Formic
Formic acid
acid

Lactic
Lactic acid
acid
Acetylmethyl
Acetylmethyl
Carbinol
Carbinol(acetoion)
(acetoion) Acetyl
Acetyl Co
Co A
A Acetyldehyde
Acetyldehyde

2,3-Butylene glycol
2,3-Butylene glycol Acetoacetic acid Ethyl
Ethyl alcohol
alcohol

Aceton
Aceton
Butyric
Butyric acid
acid
-Hydroxy butyric acid

Isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol Butyl
Butyl12 alcohol
alcohol
Dr.
Dr. M.
M. Ashraf,
Ashraf, PS,
PS, NIAB,
NIAB, PIEAS,
PIEAS, PAEC
PAEC
Methanogenesis
All methanogens are archaebacteria
Derived energy from reduction of CO2, acetate or methanol
Formation of CH4 from H2
Many are thermophiles with temp. opt. 60-90 oC
Methanobacterium, Methanobacillus, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina,
(converts trimethylamine excreta of marine animals to CH4)
fermentation
Fattty acids --------------- acetate, CO2, H2 (electron acceptors)
CH3COO- + H2O -------------- CH4 + HCO3
(methanogenesis of acetate)
4H2 + HCO3 + H --------------- CH4 + 3H2O
+

(methanogenesis of H2 and CO2)

Anaerobic Habitats
Intestinal tract of animals
Fresh water and marine sediments
Waterlogged soils
Volcanic hot springs
Deep sea hydrothermal vents
 RUMEN METHANOGENESIS
Cellulose -broken in Cellubiose and Glucose
Glucose (via bacterial fermentation) - to VFA (volatile fatty acids)
Acetic acid, Butyric acid, Propionic acid

Rumen: VFA + Gases (CO2, CH4, etc.) + amino acids + vitamins

Cellulolytic bacteria
Cellulose ------------------------- Cellubiose + Glucose
Protozoa

Fermentation
Glucose ------------------ ----- VFA + CO2 + CH4

VFA (volatile fatty acids)

absorb in rumen wall
move to blood stream
oxidized for energy
Rumen microorganisms
synthesize a/a and vitamins for the animals