Secondary metabolites

Question 1

Definition of secondary metabolites

Answer 1

• Natural products are produced as secondary metabolites by certain groups of microorganism or plants
• Secondary metabolites are not involved in essential life processes
• They do not provide a function that is needed for growth or life maintenance
• Different to primary metabolites which are sugars, peptides, proteins, fatty acids, sterols- these are needed for essential growth and survival
• Secondary metabolites can be large and complicated= lots of enzymatic steps to synthesise
• Secondary metabolite toxic to competing organisms

Question 2

Production of secondary metabolites

Answer 2

• Microorganisms produce secondary metabolites because drugs such as antibiotics give plants and microbes survival advantages by antagonism against competition

Question 3

Types of secondary metabolites

Answer 3

Penicillin’s
Cephalosporins
Erythromycin
Gentamicin

Question 4

Biological sources of Penicillin’s

Answer 4

1. Fungi
2. Penicillium notatum
3. Penicillium chrysogenum
4. Penicilla
5. Aspergilli