Energetics Of Bacterial Growth: Balance Of Anabolic And Catabolic Reactions

MICROBIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Mar. 1995, p. 48–62
0146-0749/95/$04.00 0
Copyright 1995, American Society for Microbiology

Vol. 59, No. 1

Energetics of Bacterial Growth: Balance of Anabolic
and Catabolic Reactions
JAMES B. RUSSELL1,2*

AND

GREGORY M. COOK2

USDA Agricultural Research Service1 and Section of Microbiology,
Cornell University,2 Ithaca, New York 14853
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................................48
YATP VALUES ................................................................................................................................................................49
Factors Affecting YATPDeterminations..................................................................................................................49
Estimation of ATP production ............................................................................................................................49
Energy source utilization forcarbon..................................................................................................................50
Changes in cell composition................................................................................................................................50
Maintenance energy..............................................................................................................................................50
YATP/MAX.....................................................................................................................................................................52
IS MAINTENANCE ENERGY A CONSTANT?.......................................................................................................52
OTHER MECHANISMS OF ENERGY LOSS.........................................................................................................53
Overflow Metabolism................................................................................................................................................53
Metabolic Shifts ........................................................................................................................................................53Uncoupling.................................................................................................................................................................54
ENERGY-SPILLING REACTIONS ...........................................................................................................................54
Futile Cycles..............................................................................................................................................................54
Futile enzyme cycles .............................................................................................................................................54
Futile cycles of potassium and ammonium.......................................................................................................56
Futile cycleof protons..........................................................................................................................................56
Comparison of futile ion cycles...........................................................................................................................57
Are Energy-Spilling Reactions Constitutive or Inducible?.................................................................................57
How Are Energy-Spilling Reactions Regulated?...................................................................................................58
Is Energy Spilling Advantageous? ..........................................................................................................................59
Bacterial competition...