Explain the fermentability or degradability, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain the Fermentability or Degradability?

As you are aware that colon contains over 400 known species of bacteria that exist in a symbiotic relationship with the host. All fibres are broken down to some extent by these microorganisms. Fermentation depends on the accessibility of the molecules to the microorganisms, which in turn depends on physical properties particularly solubility. Soluble fractions especially pectin, gums, mucilages and algal polysaccharides are very accessible and ferment rapidly. Insoluble fibre fraction ferment much more slowly. The first step in fermentation is the breakdown of polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and disaccharides to their monosaccharide subunits by hydrolytic enzymes of bacteria. Monosaccharides are further converted to various end products as seen in Figure.

1510_Fermentability or Degradability.png

Figure: Overview of carbohydrate fermentation on colon

According to the calculations by Cummings and Macfarlane, if approximately 20 g of fibre is fermented in the colon each day, 200 mM SCFA will be produced, of which 62% will be acetate, 25% propionate and 16% butyrate. Of these, butyrate is almost completely consumed by the colonic mucosa, while acetate and propionate enter the portal circulation. The mechanism by which SCFAs cross the colonic mucosa is thought to be a saturable process-passive diffusion of unionized acid into mucosal cells. In addition to these acids, other products of fibre fermentation are hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane gases that are excreted as flatus or expired by the lungs.


Related Discussions:- Explain the fermentability or degradability

Why plant nutrients is said to be essential, Why plant nutrients said to be...

Why plant nutrients said to be essential An element is said to be essential if,   (i)   The deficiency of an element in plant, makes it impossible to complete the vegetative

Development of reserves - conservation of wildlife, Development of Reserves...

Development of Reserves - Conservation of Wildlife Establishment of Biological reserves, National parks, Forest reserves, Wildlife refuges and Biosphere reserves are effective

Enhancing the bio-availability of minerals, Mineral supplements and Mineral...

Mineral supplements and Mineral supplements and enhancing the bio-availability of minerals The proper balance of protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals is needed in the ratio

Define starch gelatinisation, Starch Gelatinisation Starch is insolubl...

Starch Gelatinisation Starch is insoluble in cold water but in warm water it swells until its gelatinization temperature begins to lose its structure and leaches out its  8con

Explain the biography of pedanius dioscorides, Explain the Biography of Ped...

Explain the Biography of Pedanius Dioscorides? Pedanius Dioscorides, a Cicilian Greek, who lived in the first century A.D. was the most important botanist after Theophrastus. H

Magnetic resonance image enhancement, Over the last three decades medical i...

Over the last three decades medical imaging has developed to be an important tool for medical condition diagnosis, treatment planning and surgery. The insight provided by informati

Explain turnover number, Explain Turnover number Turnover number:- Th...

Explain Turnover number Turnover number:- The  number  of  molecules  of substrate  transformed per catalytic  site of the enzyme per minute,

Define why the virginia opossum is considered a generalist, Define why the ...

Define why the Virginia opossum is considered a generalist and the koala is considered a specialist. The opossum feeds on almost anything, whereas the koala feeds only on the l

Nursing diagnosis, Nursing Diagnosis Nursing diagnosis are judgemen...

Nursing Diagnosis Nursing diagnosis are judgements or conclusions reached by you after analyzing the data base that indicate a potential or actual human need that you as

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd