FERMENTATION

B AYA S C O N D E D E L E O N
BSE 41
CHEMOTROPHIC ENERGY METABOLISM:
Chemotrophic energy metabolism describes
the reactions and pathways by which cells
catabolize nutrients and conserve the released
energy in the form of ATP

Much of chemotrophic energy metabolism involves

energy-yielding oxidative reactions (oxidation)
METABOLIC PATHWAYS : ANABOLISM
Anabolic pathways synthesize cellular
components, often polymers such as
starch and glycogen

They usually involve an increase in order

and a decrease in entropy

So, they are endergonic (energy-

requiring)
METABOLIC PATHWAYS : CATABOLISM
Catabolic pathways are involved in the
breakdown of cellular constituents, such
as the hydrolysis of glucose

These degradative pathways typically

involve a decrease in order and increase
in entropy

So, they are exergonic, energy-liberating

 CATABOLISM (CONTINUED)
Catabolic pathways involve the production of
metabolites, small organic building blocks

However, the reactions are not just the reversal of an

anabolic pathway; enzymes and intermediates may be
different

Catabolism can be carried out in the presence

(aerobic) or absence (anaerobic) of oxygen
 ATP:
THE UNIVERSAL ENERGY COUPLER

The efficient linking (coupling) of energy-yielding

and energy-requiring processes is crucial to cell
function

The most common energy intermediate is

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

It is the primary (but not the only) energy currency

of the biological world
SO WHERE CAN WE GET ATP?

GLYCOLISIS

CELLULAR RESPIRATION
GLYCOLISIS
Cells cannot break down large compounds
Glucose must be changed so the cell can use it.
Through a series of chemical reactions, glucose is
changed to pyruvic acid
During this process, 6 molecules of ATP are produced
(8 are produced, but 2 are used up)
GLYCOLISIS
First stage of cellular
respiration
Glucose is broken down into 2
molecules of the 3-carbon
molecule pyruvic acid
ATP and NADH are produced.
 RESPIRATION
Process of converting pyruvic acid to ATP
in the presence of oxygen
One pyruvic acid molecule can produce 30
molecules of ATP
By-product of respiration is CO2 + H20
Takes places inside each cell, in the
mitochondria (organelle)
 THE FATE OF PYRUVATE DEPENDS ON
WHETHER OXYGEN IS AVAILABLE
Pyruvate occupies a key position as a branch
point in chemotrophic energy metabolism
In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate
undergoes further oxidation to acetyl
coenzyme A
Acetyl CoA can be completely oxidized
to CO , generating more than 30 ATP per
 WHAT IF
THERES NO
OXYGEN?
FERMENTATION:
ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION
Process of producing some ATP without
oxygen present
Much less efficient
Only 2 ATPs are produced from each
glucose molecule
 Pyruvate is reduced by accepting the electrons
(and protons) that must be removed from
NADH

The most common products of pyruvate

reduction are lactate or ethanol and CO2
LACTATE FERMENTATION
The anaerobic process that culminates with
lactate.

Lactate is generated by direct transfer of

electrons from NADH to pyruvate by lactate
dehydrogenase

Lactic acid and carbon dioxide are the by

products of fermentation. If you produce
them, your body must get rid of them quickly,
LACTATE FERMENTATION

The overall metabolism of glucose to lactate in

the absence of oxygen can be summarized as

Lactate fermentation is commercially important

and also occurs in our muscles during strenuous
exertion
GLUCONEOGENESIS
Lactate produced in muscles under hypoxic
conditions is transferred to the liver

In the liver, it is converted into glucose by the

process of gluconeogenesis

It is the reverse of lactate fermentation

but with several differences
 ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION
Under anaerobic conditions plant cells carry
out alcoholic fermentation, as do yeasts
and other microorganisms

Pyruvate loses a carbon (as CO2) and forms

the two-carbon compound acetaldehyde
(enzyme: pyruvate decarboxylase)

Acetaldehyde reduction by NADH gives rise to

ethanol (enzyme: alcohol dehydrogenase
SUMMARY OF ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION

Adding the overall equation for glycolysis.

OTHER FERMENTATION PATHWAYS
In proprionate fermentation, bacteria reduce
pyruvate to proprionate

Bacteria that cause food spoilage do so by

butylene glycol fermentation

Other processes yield acetone, isopropyl alcohol, or

butyrate, all variations on the common theme of
reoxidizing NADH by the transfer of electrons to an
organic acceptor
 FERMENTATION TAPS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE
SUBSTRATES FREE ENERGY BUT CONSERVES THAT
ENERGY EFFICIENTLY AS ATP
An essential feature of every fermentation process is
that there is no external electron acceptor is involved
and no net oxidation occurs

Fermentation gives a modest ATP yield of two ATP per

glucose; most of the free energy of the glucose
molecule is still present in the lactate or ethanol
QUIZ!!!