E. Coli are known to be as heterotrophic organisms. “An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent on complex organic substances for nutrition” (The Free Dictionary). They use their host to take in carbon from the process of biosynthesis.
The main source of E. Coli’s carbon supply comes from glucose molecules that are previously ingested by the host. The glucose is then transformed into carbon by the process of centre metabolism.
1. The conversion of glucose into pyruvate by the Embden-Meyerhof Parnas Pathway.
2. The oxidization of acetyl into carbon dioxide by the Tricarboxylic Acid.
The pyruvate that is formed can also be transformed into ATP by fermentation. The production of ATP is needed for the organism to have enough energy for the process of metabolism to occur.