When is pyruvate converted to lactic acid

It is converted into ethanol in presence of enzyme alcoholic dehydrogenase. When does pyruvate get converted to lactate? Krishan T. May 27, Pyruvate is converted into lactate under anaerobic conditions. Explanation: Glucose is most common respiratory substrate. Related questions What is the chemical equation for cellular respiration? How is glucose changed during glycolysis? How is gluconeogenesis related to glycolysis? How does aerobic respiration release energy from glucose?

How do cellular respiration and breathing differ? What gets oxidized during glycolysis? Pyruvate is also converted to oxaloacetate by an anaplerotic reaction, which replenishes Krebs cycle intermediates; also, oxaloacetate is used for gluconeogenesis. These reactions are named after Hans Adolf Krebs, the biochemist awarded the Nobel Prize for physiology, jointly with Fritz Lipmann, for research into metabolic processes.

The cycle is also known as the citric acid cycle or tri-carboxylic acid cycle, because citric acid is one of the intermediate compounds formed during the reactions. If insufficient oxygen is available, the acid is broken down anaerobically, creating lactate in animals and ethanol in plants and microorganisms.

Pyruvate from glycolysis is converted by fermentation to lactate using the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the coenzyme NADH in lactate fermentation.

Alternatively it is converted to acetaldehyde and then to ethanol in alcoholic fermentation. Pyruvate is a key intersection in the network of metabolic pathways. Pyruvate can be converted into carbohydrates via gluconeogenesis, to fatty acids or energy through acetyl-CoA, to the amino acid alanine, and to ethanol. Therefore, it unites several key metabolic processes.

Learning Objectives Outline the metabolic processes that involve pyruvate. Key Points Pyruvic acid can be made from glucose through glycolysis, converted back to carbohydrates such as glucose via gluconeogenesis, or to fatty acids through acetyl-CoA.

Pyruvic acid supplies energy to living cells through the citric acid cycle also known as the Krebs cycle when oxygen is present aerobic respiration ; it ferments to produce lactic acid when oxygen is lacking fermentation.