116k views
5 votes
Why do microaerophiles die in high oxygen concentrations?

A) Lack of essential nutrients
B) Accumulation of toxic metabolic byproducts
C) Inability to detoxify reactive oxygen species
D) Impaired cell wall synthesis

User Shuft
by
7.2k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

Microaerophiles die in high oxygen concentrations because they are unable to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can irreversibly damage biomolecules. Therefore, exposure to high oxygen concentrations leads to the accumulation of ROS, which ultimately causes the death of microaerophiles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mircroaerophiles die in high oxygen concentrations due to their inability to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ros are highly reactive chemicals that can irreversibly damage biomolecules. Microaerophiles lack the genes encoding enzymes that minimize the damaging effects of ROS, such as hydrogen peroxide or superoxide. Therefore, exposure to high oxygen concentrations leads to the accumulation of ROS, which ultimately causes the death of microaerophiles.

Microaerophiles die in high oxygen concentrations because they are unable to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can irreversibly damage biomolecules. Therefore, exposure to high oxygen concentrations leads to the accumulation of ROS, which ultimately causes the death of microaerophiles.

User Manas Sambare
by
8.3k points