Pyruvate oxidation is an important stage in cellular respiration because it:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pyruvate oxidation links the end product of glycolysis (pyruvate) with the beginning of the citric acid cycle. This allows for the further breakdown of glucose and the generation of energy in the form of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. While ATP is generated by substrate-level phosphorylation during glycolysis, it is not the primary role of pyruvate oxidation. Likewise, while pyruvate oxidation does transfer electrons to electron carriers, this is not its primary purpose. Pyruvate itself is not toxic to the cell, so eliminating it is not necessary. Finally, pyruvate oxidation is not the first step in oxidative phosphorylation, which occurs later in the electron transport chain.

Pyruvate Oxidation Is an Important Stage in Cellular Respiration Because