chemoorganotrophic

Chemoorganotrophic refers to a mode of metabolism in which an organism obtains energy by oxidizing organic compounds and derives its carbon from organic sources. This places such organisms among chemotrophs (energy from chemical processes) and organotrophs (using organic compounds as electron donors), in contrast to chemolithotrophs that use inorganic electron donors and to autotrophs that fix carbon dioxide as their carbon source.

Metabolic strategies vary among chemoorganotrophs. They may respire organic substrates using oxygen or other electron acceptors such as nitrate or sulfate, yielding energy through respiration; or they may ferment organic substrates when external electron acceptors are limited. Because their carbon comes from organic molecules, chemoorganotrophs are typically heterotrophs, relying on organic matter for biosynthesis. Some organisms with flexible metabolism can shift between respiratory and fermentative modes depending on environmental conditions.

Chemoorganotrophs are widespread in nature and include many bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas species, and Staphylococcus, as well as yeasts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae. They play central roles in decomposition, nutrient cycling, and fermentation processes, and are important in industrial microbiology for producing alcohols, acids, and a variety of metabolites. In ecosystems such as soils, sediments, and the gastrointestinal tract, chemoorganotrophs contribute to the breakdown of organic matter and to energy flow within microbial communities.