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Carbohydrate metabolism in lactic acid bacteria

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Abstract

The term “lactic acid bacteria” is discussed. An overview of the following topics is given: main pathways of homo- and heterofermentation of hexoses, i.e. glycolysis, bifidus pathway, 6-phosphogluconate pathway; uptake and dissimilation of lactose (tagatose pathway); fermentation of pentoses and pentitols; alternative fates of pyruvate, i.e. splitting to formate and acetate, CO2 and acetate or formation of acetoin and diacetyl; lactate oxidation; biochemical basis for the formation of different stereoisomers of lactate.

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Kandler, O. Carbohydrate metabolism in lactic acid bacteria. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 49, 209–224 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399499

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