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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Biochemistry and Chemical Biology Forum => Topic started by: aqhl on October 18, 2006, 04:41:07 PM

Title: Alcoholic fermentation
Post 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 ?

Title: Re: Alcoholic fermentation
Post by: Equi on October 19, 2006, 04:07:28 AM

Alcoholproduction is just the very last step to regnerate NAD+ levels under anaerobic conditions. Hence, there are many enzymes involved.

Title: Re: Alcoholic fermentation
Post by: aqhl on October 24, 2006, 03:57:39 AM

Is there any enzyme that converts sugar 5 to alcohol ?

Title: Re: Alcoholic fermentation
Post by: Equi on October 24, 2006, 08:41:49 AM

Not to ethanol in one step, no.

Title: Re: Alcoholic fermentation
Post by: aqhl on October 24, 2006, 02:09:46 PM

ok, can you explain me how they are different ?

Title: Re: Alcoholic fermentation
Post by: Equi on October 24, 2006, 04:46:18 PM

I don't get it.

It would be extremely helpful if you phrase out your questions properly.

Title: Re: Alcoholic fermentation
Post by: aqhl on October 25, 2006, 11:26:01 AM

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 ?

Title: Re: Alcoholic fermentation
Post by: Equi on October 25, 2006, 04:30:34 PM

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.