Sugar Conversion to Pyruvate

Pyruvate is a major branch point in fermentation, with most flux distributing between lactate, acetate, ethanol, formate, and H2- Lactate is a minor fermentation product, especially during growth on cellulose. It also yields no additional ATP and is not considered here. 

While the absolute number of ATP formed by C. thermocellum is not certain, and the number likely varies with growth conditions, we are able to put bounds on the likely number of ATP formed during fermentation of sugars derived from 

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