Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Definition

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of yeast commonly used in baking, brewing, and scientific research. It plays a crucial role in fermentation processes, converting sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Saccharomyces cerevisiae ferments glucose into ethanol and CO2, which is essential in alcoholic beverage production.
2. This yeast is a model organism for studying eukaryotic cells due to its simple genetics and ease of manipulation.
3. It can survive both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, switching to fermentation when oxygen is scarce.
4. The enzyme invertase produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose.
5. This yeast reproduces asexually through budding, where a new cell forms from the parent cell.

Review Questions

• What are the primary products of glucose fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae?
• Why is Saccharomyces cerevisiae considered a model organism in scientific research?
• How does Saccharomyces cerevisiae adapt to anaerobic conditions?

Related terms

Fermentation:

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Ethanol:

An alcohol produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Invertase: An enzyme produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae that breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose.