Part X Extra Credit (10 points) In bacteria, it is possible to isolate mutant st
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Question
Part X Extra Credit (10 points) In bacteria, it is possible to isolate mutant strains that are deficient in ap generators or consumers. Mutants of E. coli that are lacking (completely) the FoF1 ATPase have been isolated. These unc mutants (for uncoupled) were valuable tools for studying various aspects of respiratory metabolism. unc mutants are unable to grow under some growth conditions. Below is a table that summarizes the results of growth tests with either glucose or succinate supplied as an energy source. wild-type aerobic (02) growth growth acrobis (02) no growth growth anacrobis (no O2) no growth rowth succinate glucose plus succinate unc anaerobic (no 02) no growth no growth succinate glucose plus succinate The major differences between wild-type and mutant cells are highlighted in bold. Explain why unc mutants cannot grow aerobically with succinate and anaerobically with glucose.Explanation / Answer
The mutant E.coli is lacking the F0F1 ATPase so it will be unable to grow aerobically on a non-fermentable carbon source like succinate because F0F1-ATPase/ATP synthase synthesizes ATP during oxidative phosphorylation which results into the failure to catalyse the succinate which require ATP but substrate level phosphorylation can makes the glucose utillisation and formation of two ATP which allopws cells to survive. And due to absence of ATPase it will not be able to establish the proton motive force in absence of terminal electron acceptor like oxygen. It fails to extrude protons which make it unable to grow on fermenting carbon source like glucose in anaerobic condition. This is why in anaerobic condition the utilization of succinate and glucose will not take place and cell will die.