Q: Which of the following equations represents the overall reaction for aerobic respiration of glucose?

$C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{energy}$

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the fundamental difference between catabolism and anabolism in microbial metabolism?

Accepted Answer

Catabolism involves the breakdown of complex molecules to release energy, while anabolism uses energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones.

Question 2

During glycolysis, what is the net gain of ATP and NADH molecules per molecule of glucose?

Accepted Answer

2 ATP and 2 NADH

Question 3

Which of the following equations correctly represents the energy-releasing hydrolysis of ATP?

Accepted Answer

$ATP + H_2O \rightarrow ADP + P_i + H^+$

Question 4

Which of the following best explains the role of NAD+ in cellular respiration?

Accepted Answer

It acts as an electron carrier, accepting electrons during redox reactions to become NADH.

Question 5

Which process is responsible for the majority of ATP generation during aerobic respiration in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Oxidative phosphorylation via the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis

Question 6

A bacterium is growing in a medium with nitrate ($NO_3^-$) as the terminal electron acceptor. Which type of respiration is it performing, and how does its ATP yield compare to aerobic respiration?

Accepted Answer

Anaerobic respiration; it yields less ATP than aerobic respiration.

Question 7

Which of the following is a correct summary of the chemiosmotic mechanism for ATP generation?

Accepted Answer

Protons are pumped across a membrane, creating a gradient that drives ATP synthesis via ATP synthase.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about fermentation is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Fermentation regenerates NAD+ by transferring electrons from NADH to organic molecules, allowing glycolysis to continue in the absence of a terminal electron acceptor.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the function of the pentose phosphate pathway in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

It generates NADPH and pentoses for biosynthesis, such as nucleotide and aromatic amino acid synthesis.

Question 10

A mutant E. coli strain lacks a functional ATP synthase. Which of the following would be most directly affected?

Accepted Answer

The ability to generate ATP via chemiosmosis during oxidative phosphorylation

Question 11

Which of the following equations represents the overall reaction for aerobic respiration of glucose?

Accepted Answer

$C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 ightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + 	ext{energy}$

Question 12

Which of the following is a product of the Krebs cycle per turn (per acetyl-CoA)?

Accepted Answer

3 NADH, 1 FADH$_2$, 1 ATP (or GTP), and 2 CO$_2$

Question 13

Which of the following best describes substrate-level phosphorylation?

Accepted Answer

A phosphate group is directly transferred from a phosphorylated substrate to ADP to form ATP.

Question 14

Which of the following is a key difference between oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

Oxygenic photosynthesis uses water as an electron donor and produces oxygen, while anoxygenic photosynthesis uses other compounds (e.g., $H_2S$) and does not produce oxygen.

Question 15

A microbe that uses light as its energy source and $CO_2$ as its carbon source is best classified as a:

Accepted Answer

Photoautotroph

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the Entner-Doudoroff pathway is correct?

Accepted Answer

It is an alternative to glycolysis found in some Gram-negative bacteria and produces both ATP and NADPH.

Question 17

In the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, what is the primary function of the electron transport chain?

Accepted Answer

To generate a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis via photophosphorylation

Question 18

Which of the following best summarizes energy production in cells?

Accepted Answer

Cells capture energy from nutrients or light, transfer it via redox reactions, and store it as ATP for cellular work.

Question 19

A patient presents with a bacterial infection. The bacteria are found to be obligate anaerobes. Which of the following statements about their metabolism is most likely TRUE?

Accepted Answer

They do not use oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor and may rely on fermentation or anaerobic respiration.

Question 20

Which of the following is a correct example of a redox reaction in microbial metabolism?

Accepted Answer

$NAD^+ + 2H \rightarrow NADH + H^+$ (NAD$^+$ is reduced, H is oxidized)

Microbial Metabolism: Foundations and Pathways

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