Chemical Forums
Specialty Chemistry Forums => Biochemistry and Chemical Biology Forum => Topic started by: aqhl on October 18, 2006, 04:41:07 PM
-
Hi, I have a small question. Why in alcoholic fermentation, only sugar 6 is transformed ? Which enzymes can transform sugar 6 ?
-
Alcoholproduction is just the very last step to regnerate NAD+ levels under anaerobic conditions. Hence, there are many enzymes involved.
-
Is there any enzyme that converts sugar 5 to alcohol ?
-
Not to ethanol in one step, no.
-
ok, can you explain me how they are different ?
-
I don't get it.
It would be extremely helpful if you phrase out your questions properly.
-
I have read a little about alcoholic fermentation. some bacteria can change sugar 5 to alcohol. but ferment, only change sugar 6 to alcohol. I dont know why ?
-
A crucial step in many alcoholic fermentation is the decarboxylation of Pyruvate (C3 -> C2). Pyruvate is the endproduct of glycolysis. I guess that C5 sugars aren't processed in glycolysis and therefore no Pyruvate is produced. No Pyruvate, no acetaldehyde, no ethanol.
Take a look at some basic biochemistry or microbiology textbooks like Lehninger and Brocks respectively. They should have a some more detail on this matter.