Here's a general overview of the key chemicals involved in two common anaerobic pathways:
1. Lactic Acid Fermentation:
* Glucose is broken down into pyruvate through glycolysis.
* Pyruvate is then converted to lactic acid through a reaction catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase.
2. Alcoholic Fermentation:
* Glucose is broken down into pyruvate through glycolysis.
* Pyruvate is then decarboxylated to acetaldehyde, releasing carbon dioxide.
* Acetaldehyde is reduced to ethanol using NADH.
Key points to remember:
* ATP is produced: Both pathways produce a small amount of ATP through glycolysis.
* NAD+ is regenerated: Both pathways regenerate NAD+ from NADH, allowing glycolysis to continue.
* Final products vary: The final products of the two pathways are different: lactic acid in lactic acid fermentation and ethanol and carbon dioxide in alcoholic fermentation.
Remember: Anaerobic respiration is less efficient than aerobic respiration, meaning it produces less ATP per glucose molecule.
Note: This is a simplified explanation. There are other less common anaerobic pathways and the specific sequence of chemicals can vary depending on the organism and conditions.
