Definition of
chemosynthesis
The chemosynthesis is the name given to a energy production method that perform various living organisms. The mechanism is developed by synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), after the release of energy which is produced by oxidation reactions carried out by certain inorganic compounds.
In others words: an inorganic chemical reaction of oxidation releases energy that is used in the form of adenosine triphosphate. This use is known as chemosynthesis.
- How chemosynthesis develops
- Different phases of the process
- Types of bacteria that carry out chemosynthesis
- Related Topics Tree
How chemosynthesis develops
He organism that performs chemosynthesis takes the energy found in certain foods. For this, pump hydrogen atoms through the membranes of the cells, something that causes a difference in the existing concentration. Once the action is finished, the hydrogen atoms return and release the energy that is used to synthesize ATP.
Those organisms that are able to develop chemosynthesis are called chemosynthesis. chemosynthetics either chemoautotrophs. They have the ability to take carbon dioxide to obtain carbonin a similar way to what the floors.
There is bacteria that live at the bottom of the sea and that resort to chemosynthesis to obtain energy. Because the sun’s rays do not reach the underwater world, it is impossible for these bacteria to produce energy through photosynthesis: chemosynthesis, therefore, allows them to generate their energy reserves.
It can help you: Ultraviolet rays
Different phases of the process
same with the photosynthesischemosynthesis presents two very different phases: in one, reducing power (the ability of some biomolecules to act as proton acceptors or electron donors in certain metabolic reactions) and ATP (tissue plasminogen activator, a protein linked to the process of dissolving blood clots); in the other, carbon dioxide fixation is carried out.
When an autotrophic organism reaches chemosynthesis, the chemosynthetics are expected to show some attraction to the small inorganic molecules in the environment, the most important being H2S (hydrogen sulfide), the H2 (hydrogen), the Fe2+ (ferrous iron), the S2O (thiosulfate) and the S (elemental sulfur). The electrons that have been extracted from these substrates enter a chain that transports them, in a similar way to the aerobic respiration (which consists of extracting energy from organic molecules).
Due to the characteristics of chemosynthesis, many scientists believe that this energy production mechanism can develop in other planetswhich opens the possibility of the existence of extraterrestrial life.
See also: Fixation
Types of bacteria that carry out chemosynthesis
Bacteria can be classified into various groups, according to the substrate they use, as can be seen below:
* colorless from sulfur: these bacteria are capable of oxidizing sulfur or compounds in which sulfur is found. They can transform H2S (hydrogen sulfide) that comes from decomposing organic matter, which is abundant in waters Residual calls (all kinds of water that have suffered a decrease in quality due to anthropogenic influence, that is, as a result of human actions);
* of nitrogen: this type of bacteria has the ability to oxidize reduced nitrogen compounds from the decomposition of plant remains and animal carcasses, such as NH3 (ammonia), which can then be transformed into NO3- (nitrates). Plants can assimilate these nitrates after the transformation;
* iron: through oxidation, they can give ferric compounds from ferrous. In other words, these bacteria are capable of transforming mineral deposits of iron carbonates into iron oxide deposits;
* from hydrogen: are capable of using molecular hydrogen and are considered facultative chemoautotrophs.
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