Question

Short / Long Answer Types :
What is fermentation and how does it differ from glycolysis? Mention the benefit of pyruvate reduction during fermentation. What types of organisms carry out lactate fermentation, and what types carry out alcoholic fermentation?

Answer 1

Fermentation is the chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts, or other microorganisms, typically involving effervescence and the giving off of heat. Both fermentation and glycolysis are processes of converting complex molecules such as sugars and carbohydrates into simple forms. Fermentation uses yeast or bacteria in the process of conversion whereas glycolysis does not. When sufficient oxygen is not present in the muscle cells for further oxidation of pyruvate and NADH produced in glycolysis, NAD+ is regenerated from NADH by reduction of pyruvate to lactate.

Pyruvate is converted to lactate by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. Lactobacillus species of bacteria involve in this process. Alcohol fermentation is carried out by yeast.