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Question

Why is pyruvate important in metabolism?


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Solution

Pyruvate:

  1. Pyruvate is a biochemically important chemical molecule and is a product of glycolysis.
  2. One molecule of glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate, which are subsequently used in one of two ways to provide further energy.
  3. Pyruvate is an important intermediary in a number of metabolic activities.
  4. It connects processes like glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, among others.
  5. When oxygen is present (aerobic respiration), pyruvic acid delivers energy to living cells via the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle); when oxygen is not present, it ferments to form lactic acid (fermentation).

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