Description: Yeast, in the absence of oxygen, start to produce alcohol. This pro
ID: 274421 • Letter: D
Question
Description: Yeast, in the absence of oxygen, start to produce alcohol. This process is mediated by an enzyme (biological catalyst) and has been used for an incredibly long time to make beer. Interestingly, it wasn’t until the 1860 when the first microscope was invented that people actually begun to understand why this process occurs. This process does not occur in humans. But what if it did...
Instructions: Write a response to the following prompt and then respond to your peers.
Your individual response is due Thursday at Midnight (CST)
Your response to your peers is due Sunday at Midnight (CST)
Prompt: What would happen if humans did produce alcohol in the absence of oxygen? What kinds of activities would cause alcohol production, and what kinds of side effects might you expect if they did? Explain which enzymes are necessary for alcohol production. What other byproduct would we produce in the process?
What to submit:
Individual Response: Post needs to be between 200-250 words. Pay attention to clarity, organization of ideas, and grammar. Please cover all topics in the prompt.
Explanation / Answer
In yeast, the pyruvate produced from glucose is reduced to ethanol and carbon dioxide and 2 ATP. this ocuurs in the absence of oxygen and is known as anaerobic respiration.
If humans would have produced alcohol in the absence of oxygen, the only a small amount of energy will be produced due to incomplete oxidation of pyruvate. This would also lead to accumulation of alcohol in the cell and even in the circulation.
Since RBCs lack mitochondria, hence they cannot undergo aerobic respiation and converts pyruvate to lactic acid. RBCs will then produce alcohol as it undergoes anaerobic respiration to regenerate the NAD+, so that glycoloysis can be carried out uninterrupted. Besides that exercising muscles, will also produce alcohol, as during vigorous exercise muscles converts pyruvate to lactate in order to produce energy faster. The excess alohol produced by these conditions will be metabolised by the liver, where it will be converted to fatty acids leading to its accumulation in the hepatocytes and causing fatty liver and ultimately liver cirrhosis.
Enzymes necessary for alcohol production are pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase. Pyruvate decarboxylase converts pyruvate into acetaldehyde and the acetaldehyde is reduced to alcohol by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.
the other byproduct produced is carbon dioxide.