F5 Metabolism of Microbes By Matt Oda, Ross Tanaka, and Tia Rosehill

Photoautotroph An organism that uses light energy to generate ATP and produce organic compounds from inorganic substances. Ex. Daisy

Photoheterotroph An organism that uses light energy to generate ATP and obtains organic compounds from other organisms. Ex. Heliobacteria

Chemoautotroph An organism that uses energy from chemical reactions to generate ATP and produce organic compounds from inorganic substances. Ex. Sulfolobus

Chemoheterotroph An organism that uses energy from chemical reactions to generate ATP and obtain organic compounds from other organisms. Ex. E. Coli.

Photoautotrophs and Photoheterotrophs Both carry out photosynthesis to acquire energy Photoautotrophs - Energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are converted into organic materials to be used in cellular functions such as biosynthesis and respiration. Photoheterotrophs - Cannot use carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source. Consequently, they use organic compounds from the environment to satisfy their carbon requirements. They use compounds such as carbohydrates, fatty acids and alcohols as their organic "food".

Chemoautotrophs and Chemoheterotrophs These organisms obtain energy by the oxidation of electron donating molecules in their environments. Chemoautotrophs: synthesize all necessary organic compounds from carbon dioxide, generally only use inorganic energy sources, most are bacteria or archaea that live in hostile environments, like deep sea vents, and are the primary producers. Chemoheterotrophs: must ingest organic building blocks that they are incapable of creating on their own, and most derive energy from organic molecules like glucose.

Filamentous Cyanobacteria

Use of Bacteria *Bioremediation -Use of microbes, fungi, plants or enzymes to remove environmental contaminants from water and soil. -The bacteria break down the chemicals or convert them so that they can be filtered out *Oil Spills: -Microbes oxidate hydrocarbons; takes a long time and some hydrocarbons are very difficult to oxidate. *Pesticide Pollution: -Microbes gradually break down pesticides *Selenium pollution: -Microbes absorb selenium ions and oxidate them into metallic selenium, which is far less toxic. *Solvent pollution: -Microbes dechlorinate these solvents in anaerobic conditions, releasing far less toxic substances. ***Examples -Pseudomonas using oil for energy - Dehalococcoides ethenogenes breaking down chlorinated solvents in soil