Question

Ou are an E. coli, busily making energy and more of yourself. But wait! There is a crisis! Some of your TCA intermediates are be

siphoned off to be used to make amino acids and you can't proceed! Quick, what do you do?
Select one:
a. Switch to aerobic fermentation
b. switch to fermentation
c. switch to anaerobic respiration
d. switch to aerobic respiration

Answer 1

In this scenario, E. coli should switch to anaerobic respiration, which uses glycolysis and can continue the production of ATP.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fermentation uses glycolysis, TCA, and ETC but finally gives electrons to an organic molecule, whereas anaerobic respiration uses only glycolysis and its final electron acceptor is an inorganic molecule.

In the given scenario, some of the TCA intermediates are siphoned off to be used to make amino acids and this prevents the E. coli from proceeding with the normal process. In this case, the E. coli should switch to anaerobic respiration, which only uses glycolysis and can continue the production of ATP.