Term for the biochemical metabolism of organic substances in the presence of oxygen. During respiration in animals or humans, for example, the cells burn the energy building block sugar to form carbon dioxide and water. However, complete combustion requires aerobic conditions, i.e. sufficient oxygen. During winemaking, oxygen causes oxidative processes; see oxidative ageing and reductive ageing. As a rule, fermentation takes place largely under anaerobic conditions (absence of oxygen).
Areobic conditions (i.e. the presence of oxygen) are also important before or at the start of fermentation, as yeasts can only divide and therefore multiply in an oxygen-rich environment. As early as 1861, the scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) reported that yeasts consume much less sugar in an aerobic environment. This is known as the Crabtree effect, named after the English biochemist. The fermentation-like process of fermentation (see there) takes place under aerobic conditions.
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