Microbial Metabolism
Microbial Metabolism - Related Videos
21:02
Investigating the Microbial Community in the Termite Hindgut - Interview
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2007
Jared Leadbetter explains why the termite-gut microbial community is an excellent system for studying the complex interactions between microbes. The symbiotic relationship existing between the host insect and lignocellulose-degrading gut microbes is explained, as well as the industrial uses of these microbes for degrading plant biomass and generating biofuels.
16:33
Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes
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Cited by 8 •
2013
Industrial wastes can be collected and modified to analyze microbial growth. Lignocellulose extraction techniques provide components to analyze specific biodegradation ability. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identifies fermentation products of microorganisms grown on pulping waste. These methods determine the metabolic capacity of microorganisms to degrade pulping waste.
00:52
What is Metabolism?
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2019
Overview Metabolism represents all of the chemical activity in a cell, including reactions that build molecules (anabolism) and those that break molecules down (catabolism). Anabolic reactions require energy, whereas catabolic reactions provide it. Thus, metabolism describes how cells transform energy through a variety of chemical reactions, which are often made more efficient with the help of enzymes. Metabolism Is the Sum of All of the Chemical Reactions That Take Place in an Organism
05:41
Metabolic Profile Analysis of Zebrafish Embryos
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Cited by 42 •
2013
Zebrafish represent a powerful vertebrate model that has been under-utilised for metabolic studies. Here we describe a rapid way to measure the in vivo metabolic profile of developing zebrafish that allows the comparison of different mitochondrial function parameters between genetically or pharmacologically manipulated embryos, thereby increasing the applicability of this organism.
10:19
An Introduction to Cell Metabolism
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2023
In cells, critical molecules are either built by joining together individual units like amino acids or nucleotides, or broken down into smaller components. Respectively, the reactions responsible for this are referred to as anabolic and catabolic. These reactions require or produce energy typically in the form of a “high-energy” molecule called ATP. Together, these processes make up “Cell Metabolism,” and are hallmarks of healthy, living cells.JoVE’s introduction to cell metabolism briefly...
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Catabolic pathways release usable energy and generate precursor molecules, while anabolic pathways consume that energy and those precursors to produce cellular biomass. Their coordination allows microorganisms to balance immediate energy needs with the synthesis of structural and functional components. This relationship helps explain why changes in nutrient availability can alter both growth rate and the composition of microbial cells.
Electron transfer determines how a microorganism moves energy through its metabolic reactions. Redox reactions, which involve changes in electron availability, connect usable substrates with terminal electron acceptors. The available pair influences which nutrients a microbe can process and which environments can support its growth, making redox conditions important for interpreting metabolic diversity.
A terminal electron acceptor provides the endpoint for electron flow during energy-yielding reactions. Its availability can constrain which substrates a microorganism uses and whether growth is possible under particular environmental conditions. Comparing substrate use with available acceptors therefore reveals how microbial metabolism is shaped by surroundings rather than by nutrient supply alone.
Researchers can examine how changes in environmental conditions affect nutrient use, energy conservation, and microbial growth. A useful comparison considers the substrates available, the possible terminal electron acceptors, and the resulting production of ATP or electron gradients. These observations help connect metabolic pathways with the ability of microorganisms to persist in diverse habitats.
Microbial metabolism shows how microorganisms transform nutrients as they obtain energy and construct biomass. Because different microbes use different substrates and terminal electron acceptors, their activities can redirect chemical elements through environmental systems. This makes metabolism a foundation for understanding microbial contributions to nutrient cycles and for explaining how biological activity changes surrounding conditions.
Applications rely on the capacity of microorganisms to transform available compounds while conserving energy and producing biomass. In biotechnology, these activities can support food production and other biological processes. In environmental remediation, understanding the relevant substrates, redox reactions, and electron acceptors helps identify metabolic activities that may contribute to the transformation of unwanted compounds.