The fermentation of hexoses

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria ferment glucose either, via the glycolytic system, or via the hex-ose-monophosphate shunt. Glycolysis is the pathway of glucose fermentation in the homofermentative lactic acid bacteria, which produce lactic acid and small amounts of by-products (Fig. 3.2 and Table 3.1). The hexose-monophosphate shunt is the pathway of glucose fermentation in the heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria, which produce lactic acid, carbon dioxide, some acetic acid, and ethanol (Fig. 3.3). The homofermentative and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria are shown in Chapter 6 (Table 6.2).