Yeast Growth and Glycerol Formation Ii. Carbon and Redox Balances

Compared to alcoholic fermentation, the biosynthesis of a yeast cell is an oxidation process. To maintain the redox balance, this oxidation is counterbalanced by reduction of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glycerol. Many other substances affecting the redox balance of the yeast cell are also formed as by-products of alcoholic fermentation. Carbon and redox balances including thirteen substances are presented in this paper; they are in good agreement with the concept that the biosynthesis of I g. (dry matter) of yeast gives rise to the formation of about 6 mmoles of glycerol.