give a cyclic presentation of fate of pyruvate in aerobic respiration

Dear Student,

Aerobic respiration: 
It involves four main steps:

Step 1: The first step is called glycolysis. It occurs in the cytoplasm of a cell. It does not require oxygen. Here, the 6-carbon molecule glucose is partially broken down into a 3-carbon molecule, pyruvate or pyruvic acid. In this step, one glucose molecule produces 2 molecules of pyruvate.

Glucose 2 Pyruvate

Step 2: The two pyruvic acid molecules are converted into acetyl CoA, which can easily enter the mitochondria, which is the site for further reactions.

Step 3: These acetyl CoA molecules enter the mitochondrial matrix and take part in the Krebs cycle. This occurs in the presence of O2.

Step 4: In this step, the energy released in all the above steps is converted to ATP by ATP synthase enzyme.
The Pyruvic acid is finally converted into water and carbon dioxide with the release of energy.
The overall chemical reaction can be represented as 
​C6 H 12 O 6   + 6 O 2   → 6 CO 2  + 6 H 2 O  + Energy (ATP)

In aerobic respiration, a total of 36 ATP molecules are produced from one molecule of glucose.

Anaerobic respiration:
It is a two step process.

Step 1: The first step, glycolysis, is the same as that of aerobic respiration.

Glucose 2 pyruvic acid

Step 2: Pyruvic acid is not transported to the mitochondria. It remains in the cytoplasm. It is then broken down into waste products that can be removed from the cell. This entire process occurs in the absence of oxygen.

Glucose Pyruvic acid 


Regards,

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