Question

Give a general description of Anaerobic respiration and Fermentation. Explain how these processes are the same and how they are different (final electron acceptors, #ATPs, Oxygen requirements, etc)

Answer 1

anaerobic respiration is occur in absense of oxygen. this type of respiration is found in anaerobic bacteria. here final acceptor is inorganic electron acceptor like sulfate and nitrate but not molecular oxygen. it involves electron transport chain. this process is intracellular.

fermentation is also occur in absence of oxygen. it is another type of anaerobic respiration. its final electron acceptor are organic molecule like lactate. it do not involved electron transport chain. this process is extracellular. it can be of two type alcoholic fermentation and lactic acid fermentation.

similarities -

in both 2 ATPs yield , glycolysis occur, formation of pyruvate

differences -

1. in anaerobic Electron transport chain (ETC) is involved whereas in fermentation ETC do not involve.

2. in anaerobic final electron acceptor is inorganic molecule whereas in fermentation organic molecule.

3. type of phosphorylation used to generate ATP in anaerobic respiration: substrate level and oxidative whereas in fermentation is substrate level.