What are the metabolic fates of pyruvate ethanol lactate?

Pyruvate can be metabolized into either ethanol or lactate, depending on the organism and the oxygen availability: 1) Alcoholic Fermentation: In yeast and some microorganisms, pyruvate is converted into ethanol and CO2 under anaerobic conditions, which regenerates NAD+ for glycolysis to continue. 2) Lactic Acid Fermentation: In muscle cells or certain bacteria, pyruvate is converted into lactate (lactic acid) to regenerate NAD+ under anaerobic conditions. Both metabolic pathways allow for continued ATP production through glycolysis when oxygen is limited or unavailable.