Prescotts Microbiology, 9th Edition

Chapter 12 Anabolism: The Use of Energy in Biosynthesis

GUIDELINES FOR ANSWERING THE MICRO INQUIRY QUESTIONS

Figure 12.7 Why is it important that the enzymes dedicated to gluconeogenesis (rather than
those used in both catabolic and anabolic reactions) are found in both the 3-carbon and 6-
carbon stages?
The four enzymes unique to gluconeogenesis (in the shaded boxes) catalyze reactions that are
different from those in the glycolysis pathway (enzyme names in red). Those glycolysis
reactions would be thermodynamically very unfavorable to run in the reverse direction, thus
gluconeogenesis replaces them with different reactions.

Figure 12.10 What is the difference between Lipid I and Lipid II? What biosynthetic reaction
occurs within the plasma membrane?
Lipid I is the pentapeptide with NAM attached to bactoprenol phosphate whereas in lipid II
NAG has been covalently added to NAM. If a peptide interbridge (see figure 3.19) is required,
its formation occurs in the membrane.

Figure 12.15 What purpose is served for the cell when these reactions are used to produce two
glutamate rather than a single glutamine?
The glutamate synthase reaction is increasing the total number of amino acids in the cell, as it
takes the hydrocarbon molecule alpha-ketoglutaric acid (students should remember this is from
the TCA cycle) and adds a nitrogen group into it via transamination. The primary chemical
difference between the intermediates in sugar metabolism and in amino acid metabolism is the
presence of nitrogen, thus nitrogen assimilation is an essential bridge to pull compounds from
central metabolism to make amino acids.

Figure 12.22 Suppose a mutant microbial strain were unable to produce homoserine. What
amino acids would it have to obtain from its diet?
This would be loss of the gene to make the protein enzyme which catalyzes the one reaction
between aspartate beta-semialdehyde and homoserine (which is homoserine dehydrogenase). If
the cell was provided with methionine and threonine, then it could synthesize isoleucine (from
the threonine), and this should complement the mutation.

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