Life without oxygen: what can and what cannot?

The basic principles involved in the biotransformation of organic carbon compounds in the absence of molecular oxygen (dioxygen) are presented in this paper. The role of various electron acceptors during the breakdown of organic compounds is discussed and the metabolic end-products expected are summarized. The different biochemical possibilities and strategies for the anaerobic degradation of organic matter and the metabolic response of some organisms to anaerobiosis are elucidated. Positive and negative effects of anaerobiosis on environmentally relevant processes and their influence on man and on animals are reviewed. Finally, some examples of the biotechnological application of anaerobic processes are presented.