What determines the metabolic profile of a bacterium? The enzymes a cell possesses The genes a cell has in its chromosome The substrates available to a cell A and B
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is A and B: The enzymes a cell possesses and the genes a cell has in its chromosome.
The metabolic profile of a bacterium is largely determined by two key factors:
- The genes a cell has in its chromosome:
The genetic makeup of a bacterium (its genome) dictates the types of proteins and enzymes it can produce. Genes encode for the specific enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions. A bacterium’s chromosome carries genes that code for enzymes involved in various metabolic pathways. For example, the presence of certain genes can allow a bacterium to metabolize specific sugars, lipids, or amino acids, thereby defining its ability to utilize certain substrates for energy production or other cellular processes. - The enzymes a cell possesses:
Enzymes are proteins that facilitate and regulate biochemical reactions in the cell. The specific enzymes a bacterium produces (as determined by its genes) control the pathways through which it processes nutrients, generates energy, and synthesizes cellular components. Enzymes allow the bacterium to break down substrates (like glucose, proteins, and lipids) into simpler compounds or to synthesize complex molecules from basic building blocks.
While the substrates available to a cell (option C) certainly play a role in metabolism, they are not the determining factor. The presence of substrates is necessary for metabolism to occur, but the bacterium’s ability to utilize those substrates depends on the enzymes it produces, which are encoded by its genes. If a bacterium does not have the appropriate enzymes, it will be unable to metabolize a particular substrate, even if it is available in the environment.
In summary, both the enzymes a cell possesses and the genes it carries determine a bacterium’s metabolic profile by dictating its metabolic pathways and how it processes various substrates.
