Fates of Pyruvate - 1. Cellular Respiration
KEY FATES OF PYRUVATE
1. Acetyl CoA: substrate for citric acid cycle and fatty acid synthesis
2. Oxaloacetate: intermediate in CAC and substrate for gluconeogenesis
3. Lactate: produced by eukaryotes in absence of oxygen
4. Ethanol: produced by yeast and some bacteria (including intestinal flora) in absence of oxygen.
- There are aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Cellular respiration: Pyruvate converts to acetyl CoA
- Aerobic conditions
- Fed conditions (glucose abundant)
- Occurs in mitochondrial matrix
- Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
- Irreversible reaction: produces 1 CO2 and 1NADH
- Acetyl CoA enters the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation
- Final product is ATP