Question

Pyruvate produced by cytosolic glycolysis is a key substrate for mitochondrial respiration in animals and plants. How does pyruvate pass through the outer mitochondrial membrane

Answer 1

Pyruvate passes through the outer mitochondrial membrane via the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). Once inside the mitochondria, pyruvate is converted into acetyl CoA.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pyruvate, produced in cytosolic glycolysis, passes through the outer mitochondrial membrane via a specific protein transporter called the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). VDAC is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane and allows the passage of small molecules, such as pyruvate, across the membrane. Once inside the mitochondria, pyruvate is converted into acetyl CoA, which then enters the Krebs cycle, the next stage of cellular respiration.