Products of Microorganisms

Question 1

What is consumed during microorganism growth?

Answer 1

Nutrients

Question 2

What are primary metabolites?

Answer 2

The metabolism products produced during the growth phase of microorganisms

Question 3

What are the two main primary metabolites?

Answer 3

Biosynthesis compounds = more cells

End products of energy metabolism

Question 4

What are the three phases of microorganism growth?

Answer 4

Exponential
Stationary
Death

Question 5

When do microorganisms enter the death phase of growth and why?

Answer 5

When all the oxygen is consumed because anaerobic respiration is not efficient enough to produce energy required for survival

Question 6

What must be optimal in order for microorganisms to produce the ideal primary metabolites?

Answer 6

The culture medium

Question 7

Name three primary metabolites.

Answer 7

Portable and drinkable alcohol
Industrial solvents
Amino acids

Question 8

How is portable and drinkable alcohol produced?

Answer 8

Fermentation by yeast

Ethanol is the final product of anaerobic fermentation

Question 9

What yeast is used for brewing?

Answer 9

Saccharomyces

Question 10

What microorganism produces industrial solvents?

Answer 10

Clostridium

Question 11

Name three industrial solvents produced by microorganisms.

Answer 11

Acetone
Butanol
Ethanol

Question 12

What are the uses for industrial solvents produced by microorganisms?

Answer 12

Biofuels = alternatives to compounds produced from crude oils
Plastic manufacturing

Question 13

What are the uses of amino acids produced by microorganisms?

Answer 13

To correct dietary deficiency disease

As components of processed foods

Question 14

Why might a person require amino acids produced by microorganisms?

Answer 14

If the person cannot synthesise the amino acids themselves

If a persons diet lacks in amino acid consumption (soy plants lack methylene)

Question 15

Name a flavour enhancer composed of amino acids produced by microorganisms?

Answer 15

Monosodium glutamate

Question 16

Why might the components within a growth medium be changed?

Answer 16

In order to produce more of a certain product

Question 17

Why does changing the growth medium alter the products?

Answer 17

Because it can inhibit the metabolic pathway of other products

Question 18

What is feedback inhibition?

Answer 18

The accumulation of a product will inhibit more of that product being produced

Question 19

How might feedback inhibition of desired products be prevented?

Answer 19

By allowing the products to diffuse out of the cell

Question 20

What type of medium will allow for products to diffuse out and prevent feedback inhibition and why?

Answer 20

Biotin-deficient medium because it will induce permeability of the membrane

Question 21

What products are produced from energy metabolism in anaerobic microorganisms?

Answer 21

Ethanol 
Butanol 
Acetone 
Lactic acid 
- All act as electron sinks

Question 22

What do electron sinks allow for?

Answer 22

Allow cells to continue with their metabolic activities as they balance the redox state of the cell

Question 23

What is an auxotroph?

Answer 23

A mutant microorganism unable to synthesise a compound that is essential for its survival?

Question 24

What is citric acid used for?

Answer 24

A plasticizer in materials

In the food industry

Question 25

What is citric acid made from?

Answer 25

Aspergillus fungus growing in pellets

Question 26

Why is citric acid produced in pellets?

Answer 26

Because reduced oxygen penetration into the pellet results in the krebs cycle being interrupted and citric acid is produced

Question 27

What are the uses of organic acids produced by microorganisms?

Answer 27

Acidulant in manufactured food or drink Plastic manufacturing Processed cheese manufacturing

Question 28

What are the methods in which organic acids are produced by microorganisms?

Answer 28

Homogeneous filamentous morphology | Pelleted morphology

Question 29

What is pelleted morphology?

Answer 29

Each pellet is able to support the growth of cells and acts as an island for growth

Question 30

What does the formation of pellets cause?

Answer 30

Diminution of the concentration of certain compounds of the growth medium (oxygen)

Question 31

Why does formation cause diminution of compounds of the growth medium?

Answer 31

Because the nutrients enter the pellets to enable growth of cells

Question 32

Why are cells at the centre of a pellet unable to metabolise efficiently and what does this result in?

Answer 32

Because oxygen entering the pellet is used by cells on the outside of the pellet Results in the production of organic acids

Question 33

How can we obtain products we want from microorganisms?

Answer 33

By manipulating growth mediums

Question 34

What does acetobacter do?

Answer 34

Converts ethanol to acetic acid

Question 35

What is acetic acid used for?

Answer 35

Vinegar production

Question 36

How are polysaccharides obtained from microorganisms?

Answer 36

Bacteria is grown in a bioreactor | Growth medium and growth conditions are manipulated

Question 37

What microorganism produces polysaccharides?

Answer 37

Xanthomonas

Question 38

What are the uses for polysaccharides produced by microorganisms?

Answer 38

Food products = yoghurts, increasing viscosity Industrial = enhanced oil recovery Viscosity extenders

Question 39

What are the required nutrients for polysacchairde production by microorganisms?

Answer 39

Sugars | Phosphate

Question 40

What does limited phosphate result in during polysaccharide production by microorganisms?

Answer 40

Excess sugar production

Question 41

What are lipids produced by microorganisms used for?

Answer 41

Dietary additives | Biodegradable plastic

Question 42

What microorganism is used to make biodegradable plastics?

Answer 42

Alcaligenes

Question 43

What are the uses of vitamin B12?

Answer 43

Cures pernicious anaemia | Health food shop products

Question 44

What microorganism produces vitamin B12?

Answer 44

Propionibacterium - Precursor produced under anaerobic conditions - Precursor produces vitamin B12 in aerobic conditions