Summary
Highlights
Lactic fermentation occurs after glycolysis in the absence of oxygen within the hyaloplasm, converting pyruvic acid into lactic acid. Alcoholic fermentation also happens after glycolysis in the hyaloplasm without oxygen, transforming pyruvic acid into ethanol.
Glycolysis is a common process for both respiration and fermentation, converting glucose to pyruvate without oxygen. Mitochondria are cellular organelles involved in energy transformation, enclosed by an outer membrane and an inner membrane with cristae, surrounding a matrix.
Cellular respiration is an aerobic process occurring in mitochondria, producing a large amount of ATP. Fermentation is anaerobic, takes place in the hyaloplasm, and generates a smaller quantity of ATP.
Hyaloplasm, or cytosol, is the liquid substance within cells where organelles are suspended. The mitochondrial matrix is the innermost part of the mitochondrion, rich in enzymes like dehydrogenases and carboxylases, as well as ATP and ADP.
The Krebs cycle consists of decarboxylation and dehydrogenation reactions occurring in the mitochondrial matrix, leading to the degradation of acetyl-CoA. The respiratory chain is a series of proteins on the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons and protons to the final acceptor, O2.
Oxidative phosphorylation involves reactions that convert ADP to ATP on spheres, following the oxidation of reductants like NADH+ and FADH+. Energetic balance refers to the number of ATP molecules produced by the oxidation of organic matter, while energetic yield is the percentage of usable cellular energy.