What are the primary metabolic fates of pyruvate?
What are the primary metabolic fates of pyruvate?
Answered
The primary metabolic fates of pyruvate are: 1) Conversion to Acetyl-CoA: In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria, where it undergoes decarboxylation to form acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle. This process is the primary route for ATP production in aerobic organisms, as acetyl-CoA undergoes further reactions in the citric acid cycle, generating NADH, FADH2, and ATP. 2) Conversion to Lactate: Under anaerobic conditions (lack of oxygen), pyruvate is converted into lactate by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. This process, known as lactic acid fermentation, regenerates NAD+ from NADH, which is necessary for glycolysis to continue. While this process does not generate large amounts of ATP, it allows for continued energy production in the absence of oxygen. 3) Conversion to Ethanol: In certain microorganisms, like yeast, pyruvate can be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide through alcoholic fermentation. This process also regenerates NAD+ and allows glycolysis to proceed under anaerobic conditions, though it produces much less ATP compared to aerobic respiration.
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