Physiological Diversity of

Microorganism

Primary Source of Energy

Phototrophs: Light is absorbed in photo
receptors and transformed into chemical
energy.
Chemotrophs: Bond energy is released from a
chemical compound.

Primary sources of
reducing equivalents

Organotrophs: Organic compounds are used as

electron donor.
Lithotrophs: Inorganic compounds are used as
electron donor.

Primary sources of
carbon
Heterotrophs: Organic compounds are
metabolized to get carbon for growth and
development.
Autotrophs: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as
source of carbon.

Primary Source of Energy

Primary
Source of
Reducing
Equivalen
t

Phototrophs

chemotrophs

Primary
Source of
CArbon

photolithoautotrop Chemolithoautotrop autotroph

hs
hs
s
lithotroph
s
photolithoheterotro Chemooraganoautot heterotro
phs
rophs
phs
photoorganoautotr Chemolithoheterotro autotroph
ophs
phs
s
organotro
phs
photoorganohetero Chemoorganohetero heterotro
trophs
trophs
phs

Microbial Adaptation to
Extreme
Environment
an extreme environment is one where
physical conditions are not conducive for human
life.
extreme environments are defined as habitats
that experience steady or fluctuating exposure to
one or more environmental factors, such as
salinity, osmolarity, desiccation, UV radiation,
and barometric pressure, pH and temperature.
Microorganisms that colonize extreme
environments are called extremophiles

Microbial Metabolic
Diversity
The study of microbial metabolism is the study of

how microbes make a living.

Recall that metabolism encompasses both
catabolism and anabolism.
Catabolism = biochemical breakdown/transformation
of compounds to produce energy
Anabolism = biochemical synthesis/transformation of
compounds to produce cell constituents
from general chemistry, that thermodynamically

unfavorable reactions (generally anabolic) can be

driven by favorable reactions (generally catabolic).
Thus, metabolism is a description of how microbes
couple energy-generating reactions to energyrequiring reactions.

Bioenergetics limitations
to metabolic diversity
Free energy = the amount of energy released
during a reaction that is available to do useful
work.

At standard condition and 1 mole per liter

of reactants and products

For real habitat conditions

Extracellular
Environment
The Extracellular Environment - consists
of a fluid compartment and a matrix of
polysaccharides and proteins that give form to
the tissues.
Interactions between the intracellular and

extracellular environment occur across the

plasma membrane.

Body Fluids
60 percent - interacellular compartment.
33 percent - extracellular compartment.
20 percent of this extracellular fluid vessels of the cardiovascular system, (fluid
portion of the blood, or blood plasma.)

Categories of Transport
Passive transport
is Plasma
the net movement of
Across
the
molecules and ions across a membrane from higher
to lower concentration (down a concentration
Membrane
gradient); it does not require metabolic energy.
Passive transport includes:

Simple diffusion, is the net movement of substances

from an area of higher concentration to an area of

lower concentration.
Facilitated diffusion is the diffusion of solutes
through channel proteins in the plasma membrane.
Water can pass freely through the plasma membrane
without the aid of specialized proteins.
Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules through a
selectively permeable membrane. When water moves
into a body by osmosis, hydrostatic pressure or osmotic
pressure may build up inside the body Interactions
between Cells and the extracellular environment

Categories of Transport
Across
the
Plasma
Active transport is net movement across a
Membrane
membrane that occurs against a

concentration gradient (to the region of higher

concentration). Active transport requires the
expenditure of metabolic energy (ATP) and
involves specific carrier proteins. This kind of
transport takes energy, because it is moving
from a low to a high concentration.

Transport Protein
Transport proteins in the plasma membrane transfer solutes

such as small ions (Na+, K+, Cl-, H+), amino acids, and
monosaccharides.
The proteins involved with active transport are also known
as ion pumps.
The protein binds to a molecule of the substance to be
transported on one side of the membrane, then it uses the
released energy (ATP) to change its shape, and releases it on
the other side.
The protein pumps are specific, there is a different pump for
each molecule to be transported.
Protein pumps are catalysts in the splitting of ATP ADP +
phosphate, so they are called ATPase enzymes.

Passive and Active

Transport
Passive Transport

Active Transport

Doesnt require

Requires ATP
Protein is an
ATPase pump
Pumps solute
against its
concentration
gradient

energy inputs
Solutes diffuse
through a channel
inside the proteins
interior
Net movement is
down concentration
gradient

Cell in Extracellular
Solutions
Isotonic- A solution with the same solute
concentration and osmotic pressue as plasma.
Hypotonic- Water enters the cell, and can
cause the cell to burst.
Hypertonic-When cells are place in
hypertonic solution (such as salt water) which
contains osmotically active solutes at a higher
osmolality and osmotic pressure then the
plasma, the cells will shrink, the water within
the cell is being pulled out.

2% sucrose
solution

distilled water

Hypotonic
Conditions

10%
sucrose
solution

2%
sucrose
solution

Hypertonic
Conditions

Isotonic
Conditions

Figure 5.13
Page 90

Exocytosis

Endocytosis and
Exocytosis

plasma membrane

cytoplasm

Endocytosis

cytoplasm

END