Pathways for Pyruvate
Identify the pathway that has each of the following characteristics:
a. In this pathway, NAD^+ is reduced to NADH + H^+.
b. The product of this pathway contains three carbon atoms.
c. NADH is the oxidizing agent in this anaerobic pathway that produces a two-carbon molecule.
d. CO_2 is a product of this aerobic pathway.
a. NAD^+ is used to oxidize pyruvate to acetyl CoA with the loss of one carbon atom as CO_2.
b. Pyruvate is reduced to a three-carbon molecule of lactate by lactate dehydrogenase and NADH.
c. Under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is reduced to ethanol, a two-carbon molecule, and CO_2 by NADH.
d. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate is oxidized to acetyl CoA and CO_2 by NAD^+.