ABSTRACT
Contents 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Current Taxonomic Position of LAB .................................................................................. 2 1.3 Carbohydrate Fermentation Patterns .................................................................................. 2
1.3.1 Homo-and Heterolactic Fermentation ................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Fermentation of Disaccharides ................................................................................ 6 1.3.3 Alternative Fates of Pyruvate ................................................................................... 7
1.3.3.1 Diacetyl/Acetoin Pathway ......................................................................... 7 1.3.3.2 Pyruvate-Formate Lyase System ............................................................... 7 1.3.3.3 Pyruvate Oxidase Pathway ........................................................................ 8 1.3.3.4 Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Pathway ............................................................ 9
1.3.4 Alternative Electron Acceptors ................................................................................ 9 1.3.4.1 Oxygen as an Electron Acceptor ............................................................... 9 1.3.4.2 Organic Compounds as Electron Acceptors .............................................. 9
1.4 Bioenergetics, Solute Transport, and Related Phenomena .................................................10 1.4.1 Energy Recycling and PMF ...................................................................................10 1.4.2 Solute Transport ....................................................................................................11
