Download 6 Problems Associated With Aerobic Life

Problems Associated With Aerobic Life
1. Organisms living in oxygen-rich environments produce
(unintentionally) oxidizing compounds from O2:
 O2- (oxygen radicals)
 H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)
2. Oxidizing compounds are toxic to cellular components
3. Therefore, aerobes have several enzymes to destroy toxic
oxygen derivatives.
Superoxide Dismutase (SODS)
O2- + O2- + 8H+
oxygen radicals

4H2O
water
Catalase (Peroxidase)
2H2O2

hydrogen peroxide
2H2O
water
+
O2
oxygen gas
The Catalase Test is used to identify bacteria which
are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic.
Bacteria + H2O2 bubbles