Question

What are the two fates of pyruvate?

Answer 1

Pyruvate:

1. Pyruvate is an important molecule at the intersection of biochemical pathways.
2. It is obtained when sugar sugar is broken down in the presence of oxygen.
3. It is the connecting link between metabolic processes like cellular respiration, fermentation, fatty acid synthesis, etc.

Fate of pyruvate: The fate of pyruvate depends on the availability of oxygen.

If oxygen is available:

1. If oxygen is available, pyruvate is transported to mitochondria.
2. Inside the mitochondria, pyruvate undergoes oxidative decarboxylation and produces acetyl CoA.
3. This is known as aerobic metabolism.

If oxygen is not available:

1. If oxygen is not available, pyruvate undergoes reduction.
2. The reduction of pyruvate produces lactate.
3. This is known as anaerobic metabolism.