Q: Which of the following is a correct equation for the overall process of aerobic respiration of glucose?

$\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6} + 6\ \mathrm{O_2} \rightarrow 6\ \mathrm{CO_2} + 6\ \mathrm{H_2O} + \text{energy (ATP)}$

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between catabolic and anabolic pathways in microbial metabolism?

Accepted Answer

Catabolic pathways generate energy by breaking down larger molecules, while anabolic pathways use energy to synthesize larger molecules.

Question 2

A bacterium that uses light as its energy source and CO$_2$ as its carbon source is classified as a:

Accepted Answer

Photoautotroph

Question 3

During glycolysis via the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway, what is the net gain of ATP and NADH molecules per molecule of glucose oxidized?

Accepted Answer

2 ATP and 2 NADH

Question 4

Which of the following statements about oxidative phosphorylation is correct?

Accepted Answer

It uses the energy released from electrons transferred along the electron transport chain to generate ATP via chemiosmosis.

Question 5

A competitive inhibitor of an enzyme acts by:

Accepted Answer

Binding to the active site, preventing substrate binding.

Question 6

Which of the following is a correct equation for the overall process of aerobic respiration of glucose?

Accepted Answer

$\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6} + 6\ \mathrm{O_2} ightarrow 6\ \mathrm{CO_2} + 6\ \mathrm{H_2O} + 	ext{energy (ATP)}$

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why NADH contains more energy than NAD$^+$?

Accepted Answer

NADH has accepted electrons and a proton, storing energy in its reduced form.

Question 8

A patient is diagnosed with a bacterial infection caused by an organism that uses nitrate (NO$_3^-$) as its final electron acceptor. Which type of respiration is this organism performing?

Accepted Answer

Anaerobic respiration

Question 9

Which of the following statements about the electron transport chain (ETC) in prokaryotes is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

The ETC pumps protons out of the cytoplasm, creating a proton motive force.

Question 10

Which of the following is a function of coenzymes such as NAD$^+$, NADP$^+$, and FAD in metabolism?

Accepted Answer

They serve as electron carriers, accepting and donating electrons during redox reactions.

Question 11

A microbe is found to grow in the dark using organic compounds as both its energy and carbon source. How would you classify this organism?

Accepted Answer

Chemoheterotroph

Question 12

Which of the following best describes substrate-level phosphorylation?

Accepted Answer

ATP is generated by the transfer of a phosphate group from a phosphorylated intermediate to ADP.

Question 13

Which of the following environmental factors can denature enzymes and thus inhibit their activity?

Accepted Answer

High temperature and extreme pH

Question 14

In lactic acid fermentation, which of the following occurs?

Accepted Answer

Pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid by NADH, regenerating NAD$^+$.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of an amphibolic pathway?

Accepted Answer

The Krebs cycle, because it functions in both catabolism and anabolism.

Question 16

A scientist is studying a bacterium that can grow in the absence of oxygen by using sulfate (SO$_4^{2-}$) as a final electron acceptor. Which of the following statements is correct about this bacterium?

Accepted Answer

It performs anaerobic respiration and produces less ATP than with oxygen.

Question 17

Which of the following best explains the role of ATP in cellular metabolism?

Accepted Answer

ATP stores energy in its high-energy phosphate bonds and releases it to drive cellular work.

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct description of chemiosmosis in prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Protons are pumped out of the cytoplasm, and their flow back through ATP synthase generates ATP.

Question 19

Which of the following is a real-life example of feedback inhibition in microbial metabolism?

Accepted Answer

A bacterium stops producing an amino acid when the amino acid accumulates and inhibits the first enzyme in its biosynthetic pathway.

Question 20

A patient with muscle cramps after intense exercise is experiencing lactic acid accumulation. Which metabolic process is responsible for this?

Accepted Answer

Lactic acid fermentation

Microbial Metabolism: Study Notes for Chapter 8

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards