Why is an anaerobic fate of pyruvate necessary?
Why is an anaerobic fate of pyruvate necessary?
Answered
An anaerobic fate of pyruvate is necessary because it ensures the continuation of glycolysis in the absence of oxygen. Glycolysis generates ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation, but it requires NAD+ as an electron acceptor to continue. Under anaerobic conditions, the electron transport chain cannot function due to the lack of oxygen as the final electron acceptor. Therefore, NAD+ would become depleted, and glycolysis would halt. To overcome this, pyruvate is converted into lactate (in animals) or ethanol and CO2 (in yeast) to regenerate NAD+, allowing glycolysis to persist and providing a limited but essential supply of ATP when oxygen is scarce. This adaptation enables cells to survive and function in low-oxygen environments.
BNO Team
