Question

Pyruvic acid is the key product of glycolysis. What is the metabolic fate of pyruvate?

Answer 1

Part 1: Fate of pyruvate
Depending on the availability of oxygen pyruvate can enter in any of the following pathways.
1.Aerobic respiration
2.Anaerobic respiration (Alcoholic or lactic acid fermentation)

Part 2: Fate of pyruvate in aerobic respiration
In the presence of oxygen pyruvic acid is converted into carbon dioxide and water. Pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA in the link’s reaction and further enters the Krebs cycle. Followed by the krebs cycle is the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. The products formed as a result of this pathway are - carbon dioxide, water molecules and energy molecules.

Part 3 Fate of pyruvate in anaerobic respiration
In the absence or lack of oxygen pyruvate is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide (alcohol fermentation). In human muscle cells, under the conditions when there is no sufficient oxygen available, lactic acid fermentation occurs in which pyruvate is converted to lactic acid.