Which of the following bacterial groups would you expect to have superoxide dismutase and catalase?

Question

Which of the following bacterial groups would you expect to have superoxide dismutase and catalase?

a. Obligate aerobes

b, Obligate anaerobes

c. Facultative anaerobes

d. Aerotolerant anaerobe

e. Microaerophiles

Answer 1

Bacteria that live in environments with oxygen usually need ways to protect themselves from harmful oxygen byproducts. Two important enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase, help bacteria break down these toxic byproducts, making it safer for them to survive in the presence of oxygen.

Obligate aerobes are bacteria that require oxygen to survive, so they definitely need these enzymes to handle the stress caused by oxygen exposure. Facultative anaerobes are more flexible because they can survive with or without oxygen. However, when they are in an oxygen-rich environment, they use these enzymes to protect themselves from the harmful effects of oxygen.

In contrast, bacteria like obligate anaerobes, aerotolerant anaerobes, and microaerophiles don’t live in high-oxygen environments or have limited exposure to oxygen, so they generally don’t need or produce both of these enzymes.

In summary, obligate aerobes and facultative anaerobes are the bacterial groups most likely to have superoxide dismutase and catalase because these enzymes help them survive in oxygenated environments