Abstract
This chapter discusses the aerobic or oxidative respiration that is the enzymatic oxidation of fuel molecules by molecular oxygen. There are only a few bacterial groups that are able to oxidize an inorganic compound for the production of energy: (1) the nitroso group of genera—Nitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus, Nitrosocystis, Nitrosogloea, and Nitrosospira—which oxidize ammonia; (2) the nitro group of genera–Nitrobacter and Nitrocystis–which oxidize nitrite; (3) the genus Hydrogenomonas or hydrogen bacteria (Knallgas bacteria), which oxidize hydrogen; (4) the ferrous iron oxidizing bacteria Ferrobacillus and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans; (5) the methane-oxidizing bacteria Methanomonas methanooxidans and Pseudomonas methanica; and (6) the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria Thiobacillus. The chapter also discusses the complete oxidation of pyruvate. The conversion of pyruvate into water and carbon dioxide occurs by means of a series of reactions called the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), Krebs cycle, or citric acid cycle. Enzymes catalyzing the reactions of the TCA cycle have been found in extracts of a wide range of microorganisms. This cycle is the main pathway of oxidative respiration in microorganisms. The operation of this cycle also provides the microorganisms with a number of precursors for biosynthetic reactions.
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