GASEOUS FACTOR

DR. M. ASHRAF, Ph.D.

(MICROBIOLOGY & MOLECULAR
GENETICS)
NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC, FAISALABAD
 GASEOUS REQUIRMENTS
Principal gases required for growth
Oxygen (O2)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Oxygen (O2)
Aerobic
grow at atmospheric O2, 21%
Anaerobic
-Oxygen -toxic for growth
-some tolerate low levels
Non-stringent or tolerant anaerobes
-some grow under complete anoxic conditions
Stringent or strict anaerobes
Facultative aerobic
grow at aerobic and anaerobic conditions
Micro-aerophilic
grow under low level of O2
- can not grow at atmospheric conc.

Dr. M. Ashraf, PS, NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC 2

 Oxygen Toxicity (O 2)
Strong oxidizing agent
Excellent terminal electron acceptor -Respiration
Oxygen poisonous to microbes
Aerobic and facultative aerobes developed mechanisms to resist
Micro-aerophiles and anaerobes lack it

Reactive Oxygen Derivatives or ROS

Molecular Oxygen
Super Oxide
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydroxy Radical
Singlet Oxygen

Enzymes to Detoxify ROS

Super Oxide Dismutase
Catalase
Peroxidase

Dr. M. Ashraf, PS, NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC 3

 Oxygen Toxicity (O 2)
Factors
a. Oxygen inactivation of enzymes
Molecular oxygen (O) -direct oxidation of reduced
groups
e.g., thiol (-SH) & enzymes inactivation
Nitrogenase destroyed irreversibly by oxygen

b. Damage due to toxic derivatives

Cellular enzymes catalyze chemical reactions
produce and add electron to molecular oxygen

Super oxide (O2 )

(1) O2 + e -
O2
Inactivate vital cell components
.
Produce
Dr. more toxic
M. Ashraf, H2OPIEAS,
PS, NIAB, 2 and OH
PAEC 4
 Oxygen Toxicity (O 2)
Superoxide dismutase

(2) O2 + 2H+ O2 + H2O2

Chelated iron
-
(3) O2 + H2O2 O2 + OH + OH.

Hydroxy radicals (OH.)-the most reactive free radicals

Destroy every type of molecule found in living cells

Hydrogen per oxide (H2O2 ) not free radical

Powerful oxidizing agent
Toxic to many kinds of cells

Singlet Oxygen ( 1g)O2

Energized form
Toxic derivative of oxygen
Dr. M. Ashraf, PS, NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC 5
 Oxygen Toxicity (O 2)
ENZYMES IN BACTERIA
(Aerobic and Facultative Aerobes)
1. Superoxide dismutase
Eliminate super oxide radicals by increasing hydrogen per
oxide production (Reaction 2)
2. Catalase & peroxidase
Dissipate H2O2

Catalase
(4) H2O2 2H2O + O2

Peroxidase
(5) H2O2 + reduced substrate 2H2O + oxidized substrate

Catalase & Peroxidase prevent formation of dangerous hydroxyl

radical
Increase elimination of either superoxide or hydrogen
peroxide

Anaerobic bacteria Dr. M. Ashraf, PS, NIAB, PIEAS, PAEC 6