Lab Question Set 2 Flashcards
Enzymes called decarboxylases catalyze the removal of the _________________ from an amino acid.
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
Carboxyl group
Enzymes called deaminases catalyze the removal of the ________________ from an amino acid.
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
Amines
What is meant by the substrate of an enzyme?
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
The substrate of an enzyme is amino acid that has its variable group removed during the reaction resulting in the production of an amine or carboxyl group being released
Decarboxylases catalyze reactions that produce ________________ (pH) products.
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
Alkaline
The pH indicator bromocresol purple is ______________ at pH 6.8 and above and ______________ below pH 5.2.
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
Purple
Yellow
Why is mineral oil added to the decarboxylase broth tubes before incubation?
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
To seal off from oxygen and encourage fermentation
Why does the decarboxylase-positive tube have to turn yellow before it can turn purple?
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
- Accumulation of acidic end products will occur first
- Then low pH organisms will react to acidic enviornment and either produce decarboxylases or not resulting in positive (purple) or negative (yellow) results
Describe a positive result in this experiment and describe a negative result. What kind of pH is present in a + result and is present in a - result?
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
Positive: Purple, Alkaline, decarboxylases resulted in an increase in pH
Negative: Yellow, Acidic, lack of decarboxylases meant pH remained negative
Why is glucose included in the decarboxylase broth?* (Hint: answer is not “as a food source”)
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
- Low glucose concentration promotes fermentation lowering pH and causing proteases to activate (decarboxylase)
This decarboxylation test cannot be performed successfully on organisms that cannot ferment glucose. Explain why this is the case.*
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
- If the organism cannot lower the pH through fermentation the proteases will not be activated and no color change will occur
Cadaverine and putrescine are examples of compounds known as __________________.
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
Diamines
The names, cadaverine and putrescine, suggest that the compounds might be found in _______________, which they are, as a result of the decarboxylation of ________________ (what molecule) by bacteria.
5-11: Decarboxylase Test
- Rotting Flesh
- Lysine -> Cadaverine
- Ornothine -> Putrescine
What is phenylalanine (what type of monomer is it)?
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
- Amino Acid substrate
Phenylalanine is part of an ingredient found in the popular artificial sweeteners known as _________________ or ___________________.
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Aspartane
Nutrasweet
The enzyme that some bacteria can produce that removes an amino group from phenylalanine is called ___________________________________.
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Phenylalanine Deaminase
The reagent that is added to bacterial growth on phenylalanine deaminase agar in order to determine if the enzyme has been produced, is __________________________.
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Ferric Chloride
Describe a positive result in the experiment and a negative result.
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
- Green indicates positive as Phenolpyruvate is present
- Yellow indicates negative as no phenolpyruvate is present
- Note this is not a pH test as the phenyl pyruvate and ammonium cancel eachother’s pH
Phenylalanine is broken down to _____________________ and _____________________.
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Ammonium
Phenylpyruvic Acid
Why can’t you use a pH indicator to detect phenylalanine deamination?
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Because the Phenylpyruvic acid (acid) and Ammonium (base) cancel eachother’s pH
A green color results in this experiment if _______________________________ reacts with the reagent ________________________.*
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Phenylpyruvic Acid
Ferric Chloride
Like all amino acids, phenylalanine is a source of the two elements ______________ and _____________ for the bacteria.
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Nitrogen
Carbon
Write the chemical formula for an amine group (amino group).
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
NH2
What is the difference between the deamination and the decarboxylation of an amino acid (Hint: think of oxygen requirements)?
5-12: Phenylalanine Deaminase
Decarboxylation occurs in anaerobic conditions
Deamination occurs in aerobic conditions
Urea can be hydrolyzed to carbon dioxide and ___________________ by bacteria that produce the enzyme ______________________________.
5-18: Urease Test
Ammonium
Urease