in anaerobic metabolism elcetrons get generated. what do these electrons do?

Answer 1

electrons can get transferred from pyruvate to ferridoxin by pyruvate-ferridoxin oxidoreductase, and then from ferridoxin to protons by hydrogenase, forming hydrogen gas.

electrons also end up being involved in the production of various metabolic end products such as acetate and butyrate.

i don't have my notes from my anaerobic microbiology course, but the big picture is that electrons are used in the production of hydrogen gas, which helps generate the proton gradient (allows for ATP production), and to the formation of acids/solvents which also drives ATP production.

Answer 2

The regeneration of electrons occurs in fermentation (alcoholic fermentation in yeast or plasts or lactate fermentation in animals). During this process, NADH will be converted back to NAD+, creating free electrons.
2 functions:
1. The freeing of the electrons is coupled to production of a small amount of energy in the form of ATP in the absence of oxygen through fermentation.
2. The electrons are used to regenerate NAD+, which acts as a electron acceptor for glycolysis to occur. This allows the further production of ATP through gylcolysis.[So picture this: NAD+ is used up in glycolysis, and NAD+ with electrons is regenerated in fermentation].