All organisms undergo glycolysis. The final product of glycolysis is pyruvate, a 3-carbon molecule. When will pyruvate undergo fermentation? How many ATP are produced during fermentation? When will pyruvate move into the mitochondria to undergo the process of cellular respiration? How many ATP are produced during cellular respiration?

The correct answer is given below:

Explanation:

Depending upon the availability of oxygen, pyruvic acid follows, a variety of metabolic pathways.

In the absence of oxygen or under anaerobic conditions, the pyruvic acid further metabolised into one of three pathways: lactic acid fermentation, alcohol fermentation and cellular anaerobic respiration. During fermentation or anaerobic respiration 2 ATP is produced.

In the presence of oxygen or under aerobic conditions, the pyruvic acid completely oxidised to carbon dioxide, water and 38 ATP.