Difference between anaerobic respiration and fermentation

The main difference between anaerobic respiration and fermentation is that anaerobic respiration undergoes the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle, whereas fermentation does not undergo the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle …

Anaerobic respiration versus fermentation

Anaerobic respiration refers to a category of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen, while fermentation refers to any microorganism-induced chemical reaction to convert sugars to carbon dioxide and ethanol. Anaerobic respiration undergoes the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle, whereas fermentation does not undergo the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle. Anaerobic respiration is an intracellular reaction; on the other hand, fermentation is an extracellular reaction. In the lack of oxygen, anaerobic respiration occurs; on the contrary, fermentation is caused by low oxygen concentrations. Glycolysis follows the electron transport chain and the citric acid cycle in anaerobic respiration; conversely, glycolysis does not follow the electron transport chain and the citric acid cycle in fermentation. In anaerobic respiration, the total ATP production is 36; on the other hand, in fermentation, the total ATP production is four. Enzymes cannot process anaerobic respiration in an extracellular medium that is extracted from cells, whereas in fermentation, enzymes can process the reaction / procedure in an extracellular medium that is extracted from fermenting cells. in fermentation, the total ATP production is four. Enzymes cannot process anaerobic respiration in an extracellular medium that is extracted from cells, whereas in fermentation, enzymes can process the reaction / procedure in an extracellular medium that is extracted from fermenting cells. in fermentation, the total ATP production is four. Enzymes cannot process anaerobic respiration in an extracellular medium that is extracted from cells, whereas in fermentation, enzymes can process the reaction / procedure in an extracellular medium that is extracted from fermenting cells.

Comparative chart

Anaerobic respiration refers to a category of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen and a stepwise incomplete catabolic degradation of food materials. Anaerobic respiration occurs in many environments such as marine sediments and fresh water, soil, underground aquifers, biofilms, and deep underground environments. They are even present in environments where oxygen is present and they also have microorganisms that lack oxygen due to the slow diffusion of gaseous oxygen. The form of the procedure is the same as aerobic respiration. This process begins with glycolysis as well as the fermentation process, but fermentation stops as anaerobic respiration does not. Anaerobic respiration continues the electron transport chain as well as the citric acid cycle after acetyl coenzyme A production. As in aerobic respiration, molecular oxygen is not the final electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration. Different types of organisms use different categories of final electron acceptor which can be nitrate ions, sulfate ions, or carbon dioxide. With the help of an example, this can be explained as the methanogenic bacteria is a type of organism that uses carbon dioxide as its final electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration. This bacterium produces methane gas as a by-product. Anaerobic respiration plays an important role in ecological importance. The biogeochemical cycle depends on anaerobic respiration, which significantly impacts global warming and the carbon cycle. Some specific types of anaerobic respiration are also important in bioremediation, which converts toxic chemicals into less harmful molecules to clean up the polluted environment through the use of microorganisms.

Aerobic and eukaryotic prokaryotes.

What is fermentation?

Fermentation refers to any chemical reaction to convert sugars to carbon dioxide and ethanol and the breakdown of carbohydrates and other organic substances induced by microorganisms. Since fermentation does not use the citric acid cycle or the electron transport chain, fermentation is not considered a type of respiration. The fermentation procedure continues in which the first sugar undergoes glycolysis. The glucose from the sugar hexose is reduced to two pyruvates during glycolysis. Glycolysis uses two ATP molecules while producing a total of four ATP molecules from the energy released by glycolysis. Pyruvate is oxidized to lactic acid, ethanol, formic acid, acetic acid. The raw material for fermentation is pyruvic acid.

Types

• Ethanol Fermentation – Used to produce bread, beer, and wine. Some other organisms undergo ethanol fermentation where the results are neither lactic acid nor pyruvate. In this case, these organisms produce ethyl alcohol.
• Lactic Acid Fermentation – Used to produce lactic acid from lactose in the production of yogurt. Lactic acid fermentation occurs in the muscles and tissues of animals when more energy is required in the tissues. Long-distance runners are aware of lactic acid that builds up in the muscles and causes cramps.

Examples

Beer, wine, cheese, yogurt, certain acidic foods that contain lactic acid, etc.

Key differences

1. Anaerobic respiration refers to a category of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen, while fermentation refers to any microorganism-induced chemical reaction to convert sugars to carbon dioxide and ethanol.
2. Anaerobic respiration undergoes the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle, whereas fermentation does not undergo the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle.
3. Anaerobic respiration is an intracellular reaction; on the other hand, fermentation is an extracellular reaction.
4. In the lack of oxygen, anaerobic respiration occurs; on the contrary, fermentation is caused by low oxygen concentrations.
5. Glycolysis follows the electron transport chain and the citric acid cycle in anaerobic respiration; conversely, glycolysis does not follow the electron transport chain and the citric acid cycle in fermentation.
6. In anaerobic respiration, the total ATP production is 36; on the other hand, in fermentation, the total ATP production is four.
7. Enzymes cannot process anaerobic respiration in an extracellular medium that is extracted from cells, whereas in fermentation, enzymes can process the reaction / procedure in an extracellular medium that is extracted from fermenting cells.

The above discussion concludes that anaerobic respiration undergoes an electron transport chain and a citric acid cycle, whereas fermentation does not undergo an electron transport chain and a citric acid cycle.