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Succinic acid fermentation

Succinic acid fermentation is a chemistry topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Succinic acid fermentation rather than just read about it. In short: Microbial production of Succinic acid can be performed with wild bacteria like Actinobacillus succinogenes, Mannheimia succiniciproducens and Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens or genetically modified Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Understanding of the central carbon metabolism of these organisms is crucial in determining the maximum obtainable yield of succinic acid on…

Succinic acid fermentation — main illustration
Succinic acid fermentation — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Succinic acid fermentation belongs to chemistry; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Succinic acid fermentation to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Succinic acid fermentation from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Microbial production of Succinic acid can be performed with wild bacteria like Actinobacillus succinogenes, Mannheimia succiniciproducens and Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens or genetically modified Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Understanding of the central carbon metabolism of these organisms is crucial in determining the maximum obtainable yield of succinic acid on the carbon source employed as substrate.

Metabolic pathways Neglecting the carbon utilised for biomass formation (known to be a small fraction of the total carbon utilised) basic biochemistry balances can be performed based on the established metabolic pathways of these organisms. Using glucose as substrate the natural producing succinic acid producers are first considered. These organisms use the excretion of acetic acid (and sometimes formic acid) to balance the NADH requirement of succinic acid production. Two possible paths exist as indicated in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The difference between the two pathways lies in the pyruvate oxidation step where pyruvate formate lyase is employed in Figure 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase employed in Figure 2. The additional NADH generated in Figure 2 results in 66% of the molar glucose flux ending up as succinic acid compared to the 50% of Figure 1. The overall yields can be expressed on a mass basis where the pathway in Figure 1 results in a 0.66 gram succinic acid per gram of glucose consumed (g/g). The pathway in Figure 2 results in a yield of 0.87 g/g.

The metabolic pathway can be genetically engineered in order to have succinic acid as the only excretion product. This can be achieved by using the oxidative section of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) under anaerobic conditions as illustrated in Figure 3. Alternatively the glyoxylate bypass can be utilised (Figure 4) to give the same result. For both these scenarios the mass based succinic acid yield is 1.12 g/g. This implies that the theoretical maximum yield is such that more succinic acid is formed than glucose consumed due to the fixation of carbon dioxide.

References

Illustrations

Succinic acid fermentation: Figure 2: Metabolic pathway for producing succinic acid. NADH balance is achieved by acetic acid production. Pyruvate oxidation via the pyruvate dehydrogenase route.
Figure 2: Metabolic pathway for producing succinic acid. NADH balance is achieved by acetic acid production. Pyruvate oxidation via the pyruvate dehydrogenase route.
Succinic acid fermentation: Figure 3: Metabolic pathway for producing succinic acid without byproducts. NADH balance is achieved by oxidative TCA branch.
Figure 3: Metabolic pathway for producing succinic acid without byproducts. NADH balance is achieved by oxidative TCA branch.
Succinic acid fermentation: Figure 4: Metabolic pathway for producing succinic acid without byproducts. NADH balance is achieved by oxidative glyoxylate cycle.
Figure 4: Metabolic pathway for producing succinic acid without byproducts. NADH balance is achieved by oxidative glyoxylate cycle.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Succinic acid fermentation

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Succinic acid fermentation claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In chemistry, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Succinic acid fermentation before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Succinic acid fermentation ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Succinic acid fermentation

In research
Succinic acid fermentation appears in chemistry research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Succinic acid fermentation in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Succinic acid fermentation is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Fermentation, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Succinic acid fermentation outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Succinic acid fermentation in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Succinic acid fermentation means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Succinic acid fermentation out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Succinic acid fermentation in simple terms?

Microbial production of Succinic acid can be performed with wild bacteria like Actinobacillus succinogenes, Mannheimia succiniciproducens and Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens or genetically modified Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Understanding of the…

Why does Succinic acid fermentation matter?

Because it connects several chemistry ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Succinic acid fermentation?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Succinic acid fermentation.

Tags

  • Fermentation

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