A general model of yeast energy metabolism in aerobic chemostat culture.

The pattern of energy metabolism of different types of yeasts (obligate aerobes and facultative anaerobes) in aerobic chemostat cultures has been evaluated and interpreted on the basis of a coupling of metabolic fluxes between glycolytic and oxidative components. A model has been formulated which defines glycolytic and oxidative subunits through which the substrate C-flux (gram-atom g-1 h-1) is calculated, stating that a relative imbalance between glycolytic flux and subsequent oxidative steps alone is sufficient to account for the onset of oxidoreductive metabolism in any type of yeast, irrespective of the maximum respiratory capacity. The model is able to reproduce the patterns of behaviour reported for the different types of yeasts, and the individual features of each strain are explained on the basis of metabolic differences which are defined by a set of normalized parameters. The model can be applied to different substrates and conditions, providing a methodological basis for more detailed studies of the steps controlling yeast energy metabolism.