Final answer:
Lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of pyruvic acid and NADH into lactic acid and NAD+. This reaction plays a key role in anaerobic glycolysis, particularly in muscle tissues during intense exercise where oxygen is scarce.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the reaction catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the substrates are pyruvic acid and NADH, and the products are lactic acid and NAD+. The enzyme LDH participates in the interconversion of pyruvate to lactate, which is a critical step in the process of anaerobic glycolysis. Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that occurs in all cells, but the reaction that LDH catalyzes is especially important in tissues that frequently undergo anaerobic respiration, such as muscle tissue during intense exercise. When oxygen levels are low, LDH helps to regenerate NAD+ from NADH, allowing glycolysis to continue and produce energy for the cell.