Bacteria and Viruses
Unit 2 Assignment
Critical Thinking
1. Explain why, even under ideal conditions, Streptococcus grows slowly.
Cellular respiration is a process in which glucose is broken down to form an energy that can be used by the cell. There is aerobic respiration and there is anaerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration involves a series of chemical reactions in which oxygen is used to transform into carbon dioxide and H2O. This process generates energy carrying molecules called ATP. Anaerobic respiration does not use oxygen. Glucose is still broken down but instead of being broken down into carbon dioxide and H2O, it is broken down into lactic acid or ethanol (alcohol) and CO2. In anaerobic respiration, glucose molecules are only partly broken down so only a part of energy is released. In aerobic respiration (with oxygen) molecules of glucose can generate 38 molecules of ATP. In anaerobic respiration (no oxygen) a molecule of glucose only produces two molecules of ATP. Streptococcus uses anaerobic respiration which is less effective than aerobic. Even under ideal circumstances, Streptococcus will grow slowly.
Reference:
Anaerobic respiration. 2014. Retrieved on, September 8, 2014 from, anaerobicrespiration.net
2. The following graph shows the normal rate of reaction of an enzyme and tits substrate (blue) and the rate when an excess of competitive inhibitor is present (red). Explain why the graph appears as it does. On one hand, we have the blue line. It represents an enzyme bonding with its substrate. The line is steep, the reaction time is quick.
Then we have a red line. The red line represents an enzyme reaction with competitive inhibitor present. The red line is much less steep. The rate of reaction time is longer and slower. Why does the line with the inhibitors appear to slow down reaction time? Because, just as the name suggests, the competitive inhibitors inhibit the enzyme from working in a normal manner. An inhibitor, in a way,
Critical Thinking
1. Explain why, even under ideal conditions, Streptococcus grows slowly.
Cellular respiration is a process in which glucose is broken down to form an energy that can be used by the cell. There is aerobic respiration and there is anaerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration involves a series of chemical reactions in which oxygen is used to transform into carbon dioxide and H2O. This process generates energy carrying molecules called ATP. Anaerobic respiration does not use oxygen. Glucose is still broken down but instead of being broken down into carbon dioxide and H2O, it is broken down into lactic acid or ethanol (alcohol) and CO2. In anaerobic respiration, glucose molecules are only partly broken down so only a part of energy is released. In aerobic respiration (with oxygen) molecules of glucose can generate 38 molecules of ATP. In anaerobic respiration (no oxygen) a molecule of glucose only produces two molecules of ATP. Streptococcus uses anaerobic respiration which is less effective than aerobic. Even under ideal circumstances, Streptococcus will grow slowly.
Reference:
Anaerobic respiration. 2014. Retrieved on, September 8, 2014 from, anaerobicrespiration.net
2. The following graph shows the normal rate of reaction of an enzyme and tits substrate (blue) and the rate when an excess of competitive inhibitor is present (red). Explain why the graph appears as it does. On one hand, we have the blue line. It represents an enzyme bonding with its substrate. The line is steep, the reaction time is quick.
Then we have a red line. The red line represents an enzyme reaction with competitive inhibitor present. The red line is much less steep. The rate of reaction time is longer and slower. Why does the line with the inhibitors appear to slow down reaction time? Because, just as the name suggests, the competitive inhibitors inhibit the enzyme from working in a normal manner. An inhibitor, in a way,
References: Ophardt, Charles E. Virtual Chemistry book. Enzyme inhibitors. 2003. Retrieved on September 8, 2014, from, elmhurst.com Clinical Applications 3. The bacterial enzyme streptokinase is used to digest fibrin (blood clots) in patients with atherosclerosis. Why doesn’t injection of streptokinase cause a streptococcal infection? How do we know the streptokinase will digest fibrin only and not good tissues? Streptokinase is an enzyme. Like all enzymes, it only acts on a specific substrate. In the case of atherosclerosis, the specific substrate is the fibrin. Healthy body tissue does not contain fibrin. Therefore, the bacterial enzyme streptokinase will leave the tissue alone because it’s only concern is the fibrin. In preparation of streptokinase, it undergoes many levels of purification before it can be used as a medicine. Reference Anvekar, Deepak. Atherosclerosis (Streptokinase). 2012. Retrieved on September 8, 2014, from, http://ehealthforum.com/health/artherosclerosis-streptokinase-t325721.html