Thermodynamic analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth: a theoretical-experimental approach

Resumo

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is able to oxidize the glucose molecule through the metabolic pathways of fermentation and respiration, storing the released energy in the chemical bonds of the ATP molecule. However, less than half of this energy is used for ATP synthesis, supporting the hypothesis that the cell stores the spare energy in the chemical bonds of other components, in addition to releasing some of the energy in the form of heat. To verify this hypothesis, the present work validated a series of analyzes for the determination of the cell's composition, whether in relation to macromolecular and elemental components or metabolites. These analyzes will be applied in bioreactor cultivations under anaerobiosis or under aerobiosis, allowing to evaluate if the composition of the cells varies in these two conditions.