Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Stringent Response in E. coli01:23

Stringent Response in E. coli

52
Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...
52
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

167
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
167
Other Glycolytic Pathways01:24

Other Glycolytic Pathways

214
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...
214
Biosynthesis in Bacteria01:24

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

106
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
106
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

165
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...
165
Overview of Metabolism01:40

Overview of Metabolism

31.9K
Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
31.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Understanding plant resilience by putting photosynthesis and photorespiration in the metabolic context.

Planta·2026
Same author

Astrocyte FABP7 Modulates Seizure Activity-Dependent Protein Expression in Mouse Brain.

Neuroglia (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Metabolic flux and resource balance in the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides.

Metabolic engineering·2025
Same author

Enhanced Spatial Proteomics and Metabolomics from a Single Tissue Section Using MALDI-MSI and LCM-microPOTS Platforms.

Analytical chemistry·2025
Same author

Reconstruction of a resource balance analysis model of Clostridium thermocellum examines the metabolic cost of glycolytic and cellulosome enzymes.

Metabolic engineering·2025
Same author

Astrocyte <i>Fabp7</i> modulates nocturnal seizure threshold and activity-dependent gene expression in mouse brain.

PNAS nexus·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 10, 2025

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography&#8211;Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus
08:03

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 28, 2017

10.2K

mGem: Revisiting bacterial overflow metabolism.

Niaz Bahar Chowdhury1, Wheaton L Schroeder2, Lummy Monteiro3

  • 1The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA.

Mbio
|August 25, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial overflow metabolism, a puzzling phenomenon, is explained by traditional physiology and new systems biology insights. This review synthesizes these factors to deepen understanding of microbial metabolic strategies.

Keywords:
bioenergeticsoverflow metabolismproteome allocationthermodynamic

More Related Videos

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains
06:45

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains

Published on: January 18, 2014

8.7K
Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids
07:26

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids

Published on: January 26, 2012

24.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 10, 2025

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography&#8211;Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus
08:03

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 28, 2017

10.2K
Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains
06:45

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains

Published on: January 18, 2014

8.7K
Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids
07:26

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids

Published on: January 26, 2012

24.4K

Area of Science:

  • Microbial Physiology
  • Systems Biology
  • Metabolic Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial overflow metabolism, characterized by oxidative fermentation despite abundant resources, is a persistent enigma.
  • Traditional explanations involve rapid growth, redox balance, microbiome competition, and catabolite repression.
  • Emerging systems biology perspectives highlight thermodynamic constraints, proteome allocation, bioenergetics, and membrane limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically examine and synthesize diverse explanations for bacterial overflow metabolism.
  • To provide a cohesive analysis integrating traditional and systems biology viewpoints.
  • To identify unresolved questions and future research directions in microbial metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
  • Critical evaluation of theoretical frameworks and experimental evidence.
  • Comparative analysis of different explanatory models for overflow metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Overflow metabolism is driven by a complex interplay of physiological, ecological, and biophysical factors.
  • Systems biology approaches offer novel insights beyond traditional physiological explanations.
  • Multiple contributing factors, including thermodynamic and proteomic constraints, are crucial.

Conclusions:

  • A multifaceted understanding integrating various biological scales is essential for explaining bacterial overflow metabolism.
  • Further research is needed to resolve current theoretical discrepancies and advance microbial metabolic understanding.
  • This review provides a foundation for exploring metabolic regulation and evolutionary adaptations in bacteria.