Yeast growth on different carbon sources

[fragnatic]

Can anyone give me a brief explanation of how the different carbon sources: glucose, galactose and glycerol affect yeast growth.

I know that glucose and galactose are fermentable sources and that glycerol is not. And how does this affect mitochondria?

Cheers

[cat1082]

If you are using saccharomyces cerevisiae then they will preferentially ferment the glucose and galactose (after converting it to glucose). The glycerol will not ferment and can only use mitochondria to respire aerobically. Yeast on glycerol will not grow as well, as you only have 3 carbons instead of the 6 from glucose (assuming you add the same amount of course) so you only get one pyruvate instead of the two from glucose. Hope this was helpful.