Study Guide For Microbial Metabolism and Transport
What are the general characteristics of enzymes?
Enzyme structure ranges from a single protein (unconjugated) to a protein requiring cofactors or
coenzymes (conjugated)
Some enzymes need coenzymes and/or cofactors, what are those?
Vitamin C, B12, NAD are coenzymes
Iron, zinc, copper are metal ions that are examples of cofactors
How are enzymes regulated?
Enzymes can be regulated at a synthesis level —> they are not made if they are not needed in the
body at that particular time (ie. Lactase to break down lactose)
Competitive inhibition is another way enzymes are regulated —> molecules that resemble
substrate shapes but do not produce a reaction compete for active sites
Non competitive inhibition is another way enzymes are regulated —> the products of the
reaction bind to the enzyme and shut it down
Chemical decoration can alter enzyme activity (ie phosphorylation) —> adding phosphorus
(kinases) or removing phosphorus (phosphatases) turns enzyme on and off
Other chemical groups that decorate the enzyme like sugars can alter their activity
Enzyme activity can be altered by environmental factors like extreme temperatures, pH levels,
and solute concentrations that can denature the enzyme
What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibition?
Molecules that have a similar shape to the substrate but do not produce a chemical reaction bind
to the same enzyme active sites are competitors in competitive inhibition
The products from the substrate attach to the enzyme and shut it down are non-competitive
inhibitors
How can we use competitive inhibition against microbes?
Some pathogenic enzymes have active sites that bind to antimicrobials and destroy the
antimicrobials which allow the bacteria to resist the treatment
We develop look-alike antimicrobials that can bind to the same active site but cannot be
destroyed by the enzyme and give these competitive inhibitors in conjunction with the
antimicrobials the enzyme can destroy
Do enzymes work alone? If not, how can they be organized?
Enzymes do not work alone, they are organized in metabolic pathways.
What do catabolic processes do? Anabolic?
What are the general characteristics of enzymes?
Enzyme structure ranges from a single protein (unconjugated) to a protein requiring cofactors or
coenzymes (conjugated)
Some enzymes need coenzymes and/or cofactors, what are those?
Vitamin C, B12, NAD are coenzymes
Iron, zinc, copper are metal ions that are examples of cofactors
How are enzymes regulated?
Enzymes can be regulated at a synthesis level —> they are not made if they are not needed in the
body at that particular time (ie. Lactase to break down lactose)
Competitive inhibition is another way enzymes are regulated —> molecules that resemble
substrate shapes but do not produce a reaction compete for active sites
Non competitive inhibition is another way enzymes are regulated —> the products of the
reaction bind to the enzyme and shut it down
Chemical decoration can alter enzyme activity (ie phosphorylation) —> adding phosphorus
(kinases) or removing phosphorus (phosphatases) turns enzyme on and off
Other chemical groups that decorate the enzyme like sugars can alter their activity
Enzyme activity can be altered by environmental factors like extreme temperatures, pH levels,
and solute concentrations that can denature the enzyme
What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibition?
Molecules that have a similar shape to the substrate but do not produce a chemical reaction bind
to the same enzyme active sites are competitors in competitive inhibition
The products from the substrate attach to the enzyme and shut it down are non-competitive
inhibitors
How can we use competitive inhibition against microbes?
Some pathogenic enzymes have active sites that bind to antimicrobials and destroy the
antimicrobials which allow the bacteria to resist the treatment
We develop look-alike antimicrobials that can bind to the same active site but cannot be
destroyed by the enzyme and give these competitive inhibitors in conjunction with the
antimicrobials the enzyme can destroy
Do enzymes work alone? If not, how can they be organized?
Enzymes do not work alone, they are organized in metabolic pathways.
What do catabolic processes do? Anabolic?
