Catabolic Activities of Aerobic Heterotrophs

Abstract

Thus far we have discussed aerobic growth on very common substrates, such as glucose, lactose, or some organic acids. Clearly, mineralization of organic matter requires that microorganisms have the ability to degrade a vast number of organic compounds. When animals and plants die, a number of low-molecular-weight compounds becomes available to the microorganisms, as well as polymers, such as starch, cellulose, other polysaccharides, nucleic acids, and proteins. Furthermore, end products of bacterial fermentations (methane, propionate, butyrate, etc.) diffuse into aerobic zones and can serve as growth substrates.