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Related Concept Videos

Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

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Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...
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Triglycerides are a form of long-term energy storage molecules. They are made of glycerol and three fatty acids. To obtain energy from fat, triglycerides must first be broken down by hydrolysis into their two principal components, fatty acids and glycerol. This process, called lipolysis, takes place in the cytoplasm. The resulting fatty acids are oxidized by β-oxidation into acetyl-CoA, which is used by the Krebs cycle. The glycerol that is released from triglycerides after lipolysis...
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Glycolysis: Preparatory Phase01:21

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In cellular metabolism (the complete breakdown of glucose to extract energy),  glycolysis is the first step. Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Glucose enters heterotrophic cells in two ways. One method is through secondary active transport, where the transport takes place against the glucose concentration gradient. The other mechanism uses a group of integral proteins called GLUT proteins, also known as glucose transporter proteins. These...
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Other Glycolytic Pathways01:24

Other Glycolytic Pathways

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The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) operates in parallel with glycolysis, facilitating the metabolism of both pentoses and glucose. This pathway consists of two distinct phases: the oxidative and non-oxidative phases. While it does not directly generate ATP, the intermediates formed during the process can integrate into glycolysis, contributing to cellular energy metabolism when required.Oxidative Phase: NADPH ProductionThe oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway is primarily...
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Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

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Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
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Energy-requiring Steps of Glycolysis01:20

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Glucose is the source of nearly all energy used by organisms. The first step of converting glucose into usable energy is called glycolysis. Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol of the cell over two phases: an energy-requiring phase and an energy-releasing phase. Over the first three steps, glucose is converted into different forms and attached to two phosphate groups donated by two ATP molecules, resulting in an unstable sugar. In the next two stages, the unstable sugar splits into two sugar...
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Arabidopsis thaliana Polar Glycerolipid Profiling by Thin Layer Chromatography TLC Coupled with Gas-Liquid Chromatography GLC
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Glycerol Utilization By Phytoplankton1.

Cong Wang1, Sarah Baseler2, Senjie Lin2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.

Journal of Phycology
|May 27, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phytoplankton species exhibit varied responses to glycerol, a component of dissolved organic carbon. Some utilize glycerol for growth, while others are unaffected or inhibited, impacting marine microbial communities.

Keywords:
dissolved organic carbonglycerol utilizationmolecular mechanismorganic carbon sourcephytoplankton

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Area of Science:

  • Marine biology
  • Microbial ecology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a key nutrient for marine microbes.
  • Phytoplankton's ability to utilize DOC, specifically glycerol, remains largely uncharacterized.
  • Understanding glycerol metabolism in phytoplankton is crucial for marine carbon cycling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the capacity of diverse marine phytoplankton to utilize glycerol as a carbon source.
  • To explore the genetic and molecular basis of glycerol utilization in phytoplankton.
  • To assess the ecological implications of glycerol availability for phytoplankton communities.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of glycerol transporter genes in phytoplankton.
  • Screening of 31 phytoplankton strains from six phyla for glycerol utilization.
  • Axenic culture experiments to determine glycerol utilization efficiency and growth responses.

Main Results:

  • Widespread presence and expression of glycerol transporter genes were observed across phytoplankton.
  • Phytoplankton showed diverse responses to glycerol: utilization (Type I), no response (Type II), and inhibition (Type III).
  • Five species demonstrated intrinsic glycerol utilization independent of bacterial symbionts, correlating with gene expression.

Conclusions:

  • Glycerol can serve as a carbon source, a neutral compound, or a growth inhibitor for phytoplankton.
  • Phytoplankton glycerol transporters may have evolved diverse functions beyond uptake.
  • Glycerol influences marine phytoplankton community structure, particularly under conditions of low photosynthetic efficiency.