Fates of Pyruvate
When is pyruvate converted to each of the following?
a. acetyl CoA b. lactate
a. Pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA and NADH under aerobic conditions when oxygen is plentiful. The NADH is oxidized back to NAD^{+} to allow glycolysis to continue.
b. Pyruvate is converted to lactate and NAD^{+} under anaerobic conditions, which provides NAD^{+} for glycolysis.