Why does the Moeller decarboxylase base medium contain glucose if it is testing the decarboxylation of amino acids?
A) The decarboxylation of the amino acids takes place during the glucose metabolic pathway. Once glucose is broken down into pyruvic acid, then the amino acid is modified.
B) To get the energy needed to take the carboxyl group off the amino acid, the bacteria must have glucose.
C) When glucose is fermented, one of the by-products is acetoin. This acetoin is part of the mechanism that cleaves the carboxyl group from the specific amino acid.
D) Decarboxylases are inducible enzymes produced in an acid pH.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Decarboxylases are inducible enzymes that are produced in response to an acidic environment. The presence of glucose in the Moeller decarboxylase base medium promotes fermentation, leading to the production of acids and thus creating an acidic environment. This acidic condition is necessary for the induction of decarboxylase enzymes, which then act on the amino acids to remove the carboxyl group.

Why Does the Moeller Decarboxylase Base Medium Contain Glucose If