Thermodynamic Favorability of End Products of AnaerobicGlucose Metabolism
2020
The
eQuilibrator component contribution method allows calculation
of the overall Gibbs energy changes for conversion of glucose to a
wide range of final products in the absence of other oxidants. Values
are presented for all possible combinations of products with up to
three carbons and selected others. The most negative Gibbs energy
change is for the formation of graphite and water (−499 kJ
mol–1) followed by CH4 and CO2 (−430 kJ mol–1), the observed final products
of anaerobic digestion. Other favored products (with various combinations
having Gibbs energy changes between −300 and −367 kJ
mol–1) are short-chain alkanes, fatty acids, dicarboxylic
acids, and even hexane and benzene. The most familiar products, lactate
and ethanol + CO2, are less favored (Gibbs energy changes
of −206 and −265 kJ mol–1 respectively).
The values presented offer an interesting perspective on observed
metabolism and its evolutionary origins as well as on cells engineered
for biotechnological purposes.
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