Fermentation

Generating ATP without oxygen!

Some biochemistry

• When a cell generates large amounts of ATP through glycolysis NADH does not get converted back to NAD+

• Without NAD+ the cell cannot keep glycolysis going and ATP production stops

More biochemistry

• Fermentation allows for glycolysis to produce a steady supply of ATP by converting NADH to NAD+

• Fermentation is a process that regenerates NAD+. This allows glycolysis to continue producing ATP

• Fermentation is an anaerobic process (does not require oxygen)

Alcoholic Fermentation

Pyruvic acid + NADH Alcohol +CO2 + NAD+

Occurs in yeasts and other organisms

https://www.finedininglovers.com/stories/what-is-yeast-food-science/

Alcoholic Fermenation

• Used by humans to make bread and alcoholic beverages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Pyruvic acid + NADH Lactic acid + NAD+

• Many organisms (including humans and bacteria) carry out this type of fermentation

http://humannhealth.com/facts-about-human-body/214/

Lactic Acid Fermenation

• Humans utilize the lactic acid produced from prokaryotes to make products such as cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, and sour cream

http://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2014/09/24/di-bruno-bros-rare-certified-cheese-pros/

Lactic Acid Fermentation

• Important for quick burst of energy in humans (think sprints or lifting heavy weights)

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/AoSnmsfsiyR/Anchorman+2+Films+in+NYC/VmifSpzIiPC/Will+Ferrell

Lactic acid Fermentation• Muscle cells in humans are well-designed to produce ATP through lactic acid fermentation

http://popcrush.com/justin-bieber-muscles/

Cellular Respiration vs. Fermentation

• The combined processes of glycolysis and fermentation produces 2 ATP molecules per 1 molecule of glucose

• Cellular respiration (which includes glycolysis) produces about 38 molecules of ATP per molecule of glucose