Page 88 - Biochemistry2 (08PB403)

Metabolic Fates of Pyruvate

• Pyruvate is the branch point molecule of glycolysis.
• The ultimate fate of pyruvate depends on the oxidation

state of the cell.
• In the reaction catalyzed by G3PDH a molecule of NAD+

is reduced to NADH. In order to maintain the re-dox
state of the cell, this NADH must be re-oxidized to
NAD+.
• During aerobic glycolysis this occurs in the
mitochondrial electron transport chain generating ATP.

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