When the mitochondria lack adequate oxygen during activity, what product is formed from pyruvate?
When the mitochondria lack adequate oxygen during activity, what product is formed from pyruvate?
Answer
When mitochondria lack adequate oxygen, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid (in animals) or ethanol and carbon dioxide (in yeast and some bacteria) through anaerobic pathways. In animals, this occurs to regenerate NAD⁺ and sustain ATP production.