What are the primary metabolic fates of pyruvate in humans?
What are the primary metabolic fates of pyruvate in humans?
Answered
In humans, the primary metabolic fates of pyruvate depend on the oxygen availability and the cellular environment. 1) Conversion to Acetyl-CoA: Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria where it is converted into acetyl-CoA by the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase. This acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, leading to the production of ATP, NADH, and FADH2. 2) Lactic Acid Fermentation: Under anaerobic conditions (such as during intense exercise), pyruvate is converted into lactate by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase, regenerating NAD+ for continued glycolysis. 3) Amino Acid Synthesis: Pyruvate can be used in certain pathways to synthesize amino acids such as alanine through transamination reactions.
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