How does the fate of pyruvate change in a fermenter?
How does the fate of pyruvate change in a fermenter?
Answered
In a fermenter, the fate of pyruvate is determined by the anaerobic conditions maintained during fermentation. Pyruvate, which is produced during glycolysis, does not undergo aerobic respiration (such as the citric acid cycle) because oxygen is unavailable. Instead, pyruvate is converted into either ethanol and carbon dioxide (in yeast and some microorganisms) through alcoholic fermentation, or into lactate (in muscle cells and certain bacteria) through lactic acid fermentation. Both fermentation pathways regenerate NAD+ from NADH, which is necessary for glycolysis to continue. This anaerobic conversion allows cells to produce ATP without the need for oxygen but at much lower efficiency than aerobic respiration.
BNO Team
