1. The digestive supplements Beano® and Lactaid® are both made using microbes. B
ID: 279761 • Letter: 1
Question
1. The digestive supplements Beano® and Lactaid® are both made using microbes. Beano® is an anti-flatulent and Lactaid® is used to reduce the cramps, gas, and diarrhea associated with lactose intolerance. Isn’t microbiology glamorous? ? Aspergillus niger produces alpha-galactosidase, the active ingredient in Beano®, and Aspergillus oryzae produces beta-galactosidase (lactase), the active ingredient in Lactaid®. A. niger and A. oryzae are both ______ (a. bacteria b. protozoa c. yeasts d. molds e. algae), which are a type of ____(a. prokaryote b. virus c. fungus d. prion e. protist), belonging to the domain ____(a. Monera b. Archaea c. Bacteria d. Eukarya).
2. Alpha and beta-galactosidase are both enzymes. A. niger and A. oryzae produce and excrete these substances naturally to breakdown large substances in the environment into small molecules that the cell (one word)_____.
3. Humans ingest the enzymes in these products. The enzymes break carbohydrates into simple units, such as ____, that can be absorbed in the _____. If the sugars are not broken down, they move to the ______, where they are digested by normal microflora, resulting in the production of _____. NOTE: All are one word answers.
4. It is often stated that H2S and methane (CH4) gases are produced by anaerobic bacteria that ferment sugars. However, colon bacteria, or coliforms, such as E. coli ferment sugars to acids and C02 gas. Colon bacteria that produce H2S actually do so using which of the following metabolic pathways?
a. aerobic respiration
b. anaerobic respiration
c. photosynthesis
d. autotrophic methanogenesis
5. Which of the following can be the carbon source for H2S production using the metabolic pathway you identified in your answer to Question #4?
a. hydrogen gas (H2)
b. elemental sulfur (S)
c. carbon dioxide (CO2)
d. glucose (C6H12O6)
6. This carbon source identified in your answer to Question #5 is an____ molecule. a. organic b. inorganic
7. The electron donor for H2S production using the metabolic pathway identified in Question #4 is ____(hydrogen gas/elemental sulfur/carbon dioxide/glucose), which is in a fully ____(oxidized or reduced) state in its role as an electron donor.
8. The electron acceptor for the H2S production using the metabolic identified in Question #4 is ____(hydrogen gas/elemental sulfur/carbon dioxide/glucose), which is an ____(organic or inorganic) molecule that is in a fully ____(oxidized or reduced) state in its role as the final electron acceptor.
9. Some colon bacteria can produce methane (CH4) using the same metabolic pathway you identified in Question #4. The carbon source and electron source are the same for both H2S and CH4 production, but for methane production, the final electron acceptor is _____.
a. hydrogen gas (H2)
b. elemental sulfur (S)
c. carbon dioxide (CO2)
d. glucose (C6H12O6)
10. The final electron acceptor identified in Question #9 is an ____(organic or inorganic) molecule in a fully ____(oxidized or reduced) state.
11. Some other colon prokaryotes are able to generate methane (CH4) using a different metabolic pathway than the one you identified in Question #4. These prokaryotes can use which of the following metabolic pathways?
a. aerobic respiration
b. anaerobic respiration
c. photosynthesis
d. autotrophic methanogenesis
12. The carbon source for methane (CH4) production using the metabolic pathway identified in Question #11 is:
a. hydrogen gas (H2)
b. elemental sulfur (S)
c. carbon dioxide (CO2)
d. glucose (C6H12O6)
13. The electron donor for methane (CH4) production using the metabolic pathway identified in Question #11 is ____(hydrogen gas/elemental sulfur/carbon dioxide/glucose), which is an ____(organic or inorganic) molecule that is in a fully ____(oxidized or reduced) state in its role as an electron donor.
14. The final electron acceptor for methane (CH4) production using the metabolic pathway identified in Question #11 is:
a. glucose (C6H12O6)
b. carbon dioxide (CO2)
c. elemental sulfur (S)
d. hydrogen gas (H2)
HELPFUL LINKS:
Beano, (http://www.beanogas.com)
Lactaid Product Information, (http://www.lactaid.com/)
Alphagalactosidase, enzyme-facts.com (http://www.enzyme-facts.com/alpha-galactosidase.html)
Lactase (Beta-Galactosidase), Great Vista Chemicals (http://www.greatvistachemicals.com/biochemicals/lactase.html)
Why Baked Beans Make You Fart and What to Do About It (http://flatulencecures.com/baked-beans-fart)
Explanation / Answer
1) Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae are both molds which are a type of fungus belonging to the domain eukarya.
2) Alpha and beta galactosidase are enzymes secreted by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae. These substances break down larger substances in the environment to smaller particles that the cell assimilate.
3) The enzymes break down carbohydrates into smaller products such as glucose which gets absorbed in the small intestines. If the sugars are not broken down, they move to the colon (large intestine) where they are acted upon by normal microflora resulting in the production of gases.
4) Colon bacteria that produce H2S produce actually do so by using anaerobic respiration pathway.
Please post other questions separately.
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