Fates of pyruvate (main aspects)

Lactic fermentation

- Main goal: to regenerate NAD⁺ through the reduction of pyruvate

- Subcellular localization: cytosol

- Conditions required to occur: anaerobic and/or absence of mitochondria

- Number of biochemical reactions: 1

- Energetic output (per pyruvate molecule): -1 NADH

- Final product (per pyruvate molecule): 1 lactate

Pyruvate oxidation

- Type of metabolic pathway: catabolic, linear

- Main goal: energy production from pyruvate oxidation

- Subcellular localization: mitochondrial matrix

- Conditions required to occur: aerobic

- Number of biochemical reactions: 1

- Energetic output (per pyruvate molecule): +1NADH

- Final product (per pyruvate molecule): 1 acetyl-CoA