Some Escherichia Coli Mutants Can Use Nitrate (NO) as an Electron

Essay

Some Escherichia coli mutants can use nitrate (NO) as an electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions. A researcher wants to test the hypothesis that such a mutant obtained in a laboratory can obtain energy from succinate as an electron donor. Her proposed hypothesis is based on energy production from the redox pairs succinate/fumarate and nitrate/nitrite. Predict her calculations and determine if succinate oxidation to fumarate coupled to nitrite (NO) formation can yield some energy for growth as evidenced by an overall - $\Delta$ G°' of the coupled reactions.