Fermentation

(What cells do when they run out of

oxygen)
 Alcoholic Fermentation
• Occurs in yeasts, some plants
• Glycolysis occurs first
• Pyruvate is converted into:
• 1) Ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
• 2) CO2
• Used in making bread, beer, wine
 Lactic Acid Fermentation
• Occurs in the muscle cells of mammals
• Glycolysis occurs first
• Pyruvate is converted to lactic acid
 Energy payoff?
• Fermentation does NOT generate any new ATP
• So…what’s the point???
It regenerates NAD+ so that glycolysis can keep
running.
 Anaerobic Electron Transport
• -in bacteria
• e- are stripped from an organic compound and
sent through an e-tc in the plasma membrane
• An inorganic compound serves as the final e-
acceptor
• Energy yield varies, but is small
 Alternative Energy Source
• Glycogen = 1% of stored energy
• Fats = 78%
• Proteins = 21%
 Using Fats
• Triglycerides: broken down into glycerol and
fatty acids
• Glycerol is converted into an intermediate in
glycolysis
• Fatty acids are converted to acetyl-CoA and
enter the Krebs cycle
 Using Proteins
• Proteins: broken down into amino acids
• The amine group is removed and excreted in
urine (NH2)
• The remaining carbon backbone may be
converted to carbs or fats and enter the Krebs
cycle