If an organism utilizes aerobic respiration, how does it utilize pyruvic acid?
A) It reacts with oxaloacetate to form citrate
B) It is reduced to lactic acid
C) It is catabolized in glycolysis
D) It is the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain
E) It is converted to acetyl CoA
Option E
Aerobic respiration is the breakdown of glucose in the presence of oxygen. Whenever an organism is performing aerobic respiration, then glucose is first broken down into pyruvic acid and then pyruvic acid is broken down into acetyl coenzyme. This molecule then enters citric acid cycle and mitochondrial matrix where it is completely oxidised to carbon dioxide and water.
But if the organism is performing anaerobic respiration, respiration in the absence of oxygen, then pyruvic acid itself acts as final electron acceptor and results in the formation of lactic acid if the enzyme is lactate dehydrogenase or alcohol and carbon dioxide if the enzyme is alcohol dehydrogenase. This process is called as fermentation and results in the regeneration of NAD+.
PLEASE RATE HIGH.
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