At the doctor’s office, the doctor drains the abscess and takes a sample for culturing. She also prescribes some broad-spectrum
antibiotics to treat the obvious infection. A couple days later, the doctor tells Sam that his wound contained a number of bacteria including Pasteurella multocida. When the dog bit Sam’s arm P. multocida entered the wound and started to establish an infection. In order to do so, the bacteria have to grow, which requires energy. One of the most common energy sources used by bacteria is glucose. Why is glucose such a good source of energy for bacteria? At the doctor’s office, the doctor drains the abscess and takes a sample for culturing. She also prescribes some broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat the obvious infection. A couple days later, the doctor tells Sam that his wound contained a number of bacteria including Pasteurella multocida. When the dog bit Sam’s arm P. multocida entered the wound and started to establish an infection. In order to do so, the bacteria have to grow, which requires energy. One of the most common energy sources used by bacteria is glucose. Why is glucose such a good source of energy for bacteria?
a. Glucose contains six oxygen atoms, which can be used for oxidative phosphorylation and the generation of many ATP molecules.
b. Glucose is a highly reduced compound, containing many carbon-hydrogen bonds and a lot of potential energy.
c. Glucose contains six carbon atoms, which can be quickly incorporated into organic cellular constituents needed for growth.
d. Glucose is a highly oxidized compound, containing many carbon-hydrogen bonds and a lot of potential energy.
The correct answer is option b. "Glucose is a highly reduced compound, containing many carbon-hydrogen bonds and a lot of potential energy".
Explanation:
Glucose is the preferred source of energy for many microorganisms, including most bacteria. The reason behind this adaptation is that glucose is a highly reduced compound, containing many carbon-hydrogen bonds and a lot of potential energy. Reduction of glucose is achieved through different metabolic pathways using enzymes as aldehyde reductase, and its carbon-hydrogen bonds breakdown releases a lot of potential energy. These two properties makes glucose a good source of energy for the cells.
