Final answer:
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) catalyzes the conversion of pyruvic acid to lactic acid, enabling anaerobic glycolysis in frog muscles during quick escapes from predators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reaction catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) that is important for escape by frogs is the conversion of pyruvic acid to lactic acid using NADH, forming NAD+. This is a crucial part of anaerobic glycolysis, allowing muscles to function without oxygen for short bursts of activity, such as when frogs need to quickly escape predators. Although the accumulation of lactic acid was previously believed to cause muscle stiffness and soreness, this has been disputed by more recent research. Once the conditions allow for aerobic respiration again, lactic acid can be transported to the liver to be converted back into pyruvic acid and enter the citric acid cycle for energy production.