Energy extracted from the fermentation of a few simple sugars fuels the key biochemical pathways and metabolic systems that are the underpinning of the physiology of
Borrelia and also energizes a V-type ATPase (V-ATPase). This establishes a membrane potential that drives motility and the transport of most solutes. After transport, metabolites and biochemical intermediates, such as simple sugars, fatty acids, purines and pyrimidines, peptides and metals ions, are chemically utilized and/or modified to provide an intracellular pool of compounds necessary for protein, nucleic acid, membrane and cell wall biosynthesis.
The extremely limited
de novo biosynthetic capacity of
Borrelia restricts members of this genus to a host-dependent lifestyle but conserves energy and reflects a reduction of the genome that is an interesting example of adaptive biology. (
Samuels and Radolf, 2010)
ReferencesSamuels, D.S. and Radolf, J.D. (2010)
Borrelia: Molecular Biology, Host Interaction and Pathogenesis .
Caister Academic Press, Norfolk, UK.
Labels: Metabolism of Borrelia, Physiology of Borrelia