What happens after glycolysis?

After glycolysis, the fate of pyruvate depends on the availability of oxygen. In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria and converted into acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle. Under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is converted into lactate (in animals) or ethanol and CO2 (in yeast) through fermentation, regenerating NAD+ for continued glycolysis.