Question

explain the importance of fermentation as it occurs in many microorganisms and provide reasons why only few parts of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle are operational during bacterial fermentation

Answer 1

(a) Fermentation occurs when there is no oxygen present for the oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP.

In the absence of oxygen, fermentation produces 2 ATP through glycolysis which plays a crucial role for the organisms survival.

Moreover, NADH produced during glycolysis must be reoxidized to NAD+ for reuse as an electron carrier for glycolysis. This is achieved through fermentation.

(b) Only a few steps in TCA is operational during fermentation because:

i. There is no oxidative phosphorylation. So the steps which produce NADH may not be functional

ii. The energy consuming steps may not operate, and thus can be a way to conserve energy

iii. A few steps which are operational can produce important precursors

(Please rte the answer if found helpful)