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      Course Sheet: Microbial Energy Metabolism Lesson

      🟢 Brief Description:

      This course complements the subject of Bacterial Systematics and focuses on the study of the energy metabolism of microorganisms, particularly prokaryotes.
      It covers the biochemical mechanisms involved in the catabolism of carbohydrates and other organic compounds, aiming to explain how bacteria and Archaea generate and utilize energy. The main objective is to link these mechanisms to the biochemical characterization and identification of microorganisms.

      🎓 Target Audience:

      • Students specializing in Microbiology or biotechnology

      • Students preparing for advanced studies in Applied Microbiology or biotechnology and health

      🎯 General Objectives:

      • Understand the biochemical mechanisms of microbial energy metabolism.

      • Identify the different types of metabolism (respiration, fermentation, oxidation, phototrophy, etc.).

      • Use biochemical characteristics as criteria for bacterial identification and classification.


  • Instructor Contact Information

    Course Title: Microbial Biochemistry
    Course Code / Unit: UEM 3.1.1 (O/P)
    Total Semester Hours (TSH): 60 hours
    Credits: 6
    Coefficient: 3

    Instructor’s Name: RABHI Nour El Houda
    Professional Email: n.rabhi@centre-univ-mila.dz

    Weekly Contact Hours (WCH): Approximately 4 h.30min per week (lectures + tutorials/practicals)
    Estimated Personal Study Hours (PSH): Approximately 3 hours per week

    Assessment Methods:

    • Continuous assessment (quizzes, short tests, and lab reports)

    • Graded practical sessions

    • Final written exam (synthesis and application questions)


  • Learning Objectives

    By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

    1. Identify the main metabolic pathways used by microorganisms.

    2. Understand the biochemical mechanisms of respiration, fermentation, and bacterial photosynthesis.

    3. Distinguish the types of metabolism based on carbon, energy, and electron sources.

    4. Analyze biochemical test results for bacterial characterization.

    5. Interpret metabolic profiles within taxonomic and ecological contexts.


  • Prerequisites

    • Basic knowledge in Biochemistry (enzymes, metabolic reactions, ATP, redox systems).
    • Foundational concepts in Microbiology (cell structure, growth, bacterial nutrition).

    • General understanding of Cell Biology.

  • Course Outline


    I. Introduction

    1. Concept of energy in living systems
    2. Overview of anabolism and catabolism

    II. Energy Metabolism in Microorganisms

    1. Energy sources and trophic types (phototrophs, chemotrophs, organotrophs, lithotrophs)
    2. Final electron acceptors and the different types of respiration (aerobic, anaerobic, nitrate, sulfate, etc.)

    III. Carbohydrate Catabolism


      1. Glycolysis (Embden–Meyerhof pathway)
      2. Carbohydrate catabolism in yeasts (aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, industrial applications)
      3. Alternative glycolytic pathways (Entner–Doudoroff, Pentose phosphate pathway)
      4. Anaerobic metabolism of pyruvate
      5. Tricarboxylic acid cycle (Krebs cycle)
      6. Glyoxylate cycle (glyoxylate shunt)
      7. Fermentations derived from the Krebs or glyoxylate cycles
      8. Comparative importance of these pathways among microorganisms: bacteria, yeasts, and mold

    IV. Lipid Catabolism

    1. Hydrolysis of lipids and β-oxidation of fatty acids
    2. Energy yield and integration with central metabolism

    V. Protein Catabolism

      1. Proteolysis and amino acid degradation
      2. Deamination, decarboxylation, and transamination reactions

    VI. Carbohydrate Anabolism

      1. Gluconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis
      2. Biosynthesis of polysaccharides and cell wall components

    VII. Lipid Anabolism

      1. Fatty acid synthesis and elongation
      2. Biosynthesis of phospholipids and membrane lipids

    VIII. Amino Acid and Protein Anabolism

      1. Amino acid biosynthetic pathways
      2. Peptide and protein synthesis mechanisms

    IX. Secondary Metabolism

      1. Overview of secondary metabolites: antibiotics, pigments, toxins, and signaling molecules

      2. Ecological and industrial significance of microbial secondary metabolism


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