Pyruvate

Question 1

What are the three fates of pyruvate?

Answer 1

Lactate Production
Alcoholic Fermentation
Acetyl-CoA generation

Question 2

Generation of lactate

Answer 2

Anaerobic
Mammalian muscle
Catalysed by lactate dehydrogenase
Reforms NAD+ for continuation of glycolysis

Question 3

Alcoholic Fermentation

Answer 3

Anaerobic
Occurs in yeasts
Decarboxylation and Dehydrogenation
Catalysed by pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase
Reforms NAD+ for continuation of glycolysis

Question 4

Acetyl-CoA generation

Answer 4

Catalysed by pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
Decarboxylation and Reduction
Forms Acetyl-CoA which enters the TCA Cycle

Question 5

Acetyl-CoA

Answer 5

High energy thioester bond, readily hydrolysed

Acetate (2C) easily donated