What are the 3 catabolic fates of pyruvate?

The three catabolic fates of pyruvate are: 1) Conversion to Acetyl-CoA: In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle for further breakdown and ATP production. 2) Lactic Acid Fermentation: In anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is reduced to lactate (lactic acid) in a process that regenerates NAD+ for glycolysis to continue. 3) Alcoholic Fermentation: In yeast and some bacteria, pyruvate is converted into ethanol and CO2 through alcoholic fermentation, again regenerating NAD+ to sustain glycolysis under anaerobic conditions. These pathways ensure that cells can continue to generate ATP even without oxygen.