What are the three fates of pyruvate?
What are the three fates of pyruvate?
Answered
The three main fates of pyruvate depend on the availability of oxygen and the type of cell: 1) Conversion to Acetyl-CoA (Aerobic Respiration): In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria, where it is decarboxylated and oxidized to form acetyl-CoA. This acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, generating NADH, FADH2, and ATP, which are used in oxidative phosphorylation to produce large amounts of ATP. 2) Conversion to Lactate (Lactic Acid Fermentation): When oxygen is scarce or absent (anaerobic conditions), pyruvate is converted into lactate by lactate dehydrogenase, which also regenerates NAD+ to ensure glycolysis can continue, although this pathway produces far less ATP than aerobic respiration. 3) Conversion to Ethanol (Alcoholic Fermentation): In organisms like yeast, pyruvate is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide under anaerobic conditions. This conversion also regenerates NAD+, enabling glycolysis to persist in the absence of oxygen.
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