Question

In most organisms, the end product of glycolysis is pyruvate. Pyruvate still contains a substantial amount of energy, which can be further extracted. Whether the organisms are operating under aerobic or anaerobic conditions determines the metabolic pathway that pyruvate undergoes to produce more ATP. In this, you will identify the end products of these metabolic pathways.

Match each product of pyruvate metabolism with the condition under which it is produced.

a. fermentation in yeast and bacteria
b. aerobic oxidation
c. fermentation in human muscles

1. lactate
2. ethanol
3. acetyl CoA

Answer 1

The end products of pyruvate metabolism are ethanol, acetyl CoA, and lactate, depending on the condition under which it is produced.

Step-by-step explanation:

The product of pyruvate metabolism depends on the condition under which it is produced:

1. If pyruvate is metabolized under fermentation in yeast and bacteria, the end product is ethanol.
2. If pyruvate is metabolized under aerobic conditions, the end product is acetyl CoA. This occurs in eukaryotic cells, where pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria and transformed into acetyl CoA.
3. If pyruvate is metabolized under fermentation in human muscles, the end product is lactate. This occurs when oxygen is limited or absent, such as during intense exercise.

Answer 2

The correct matches would be (A and 2) (B and 3) and (C and 1).

Step-by-step explanation:

Fermentation in yeast and bacteria produces ethanol and it's frequently used in the alcohol industry in order to obtain alcohol from fruits and other materials. Aerobic oxidation takes Pyruvate and turns it into Acetyl CoA that will then enter into the Krebs cycle. Finally, the fermentation in human muscles produces Lactate and that's why muscles hurt after exercising because when they run out of energy produced by usual metabolic routes, they use fermentation to get energy, leaving lactate residues in muscles.