During anaerobic glycolysis, which substance is formed as a direct result of glucose breakdown in the absence of oxygen?

During anaerobic glycolysis, which substance is formed as a direct result of glucose breakdown in the absence of oxygen?

• A. Lactic acid
• B. Pyruvic acid
• C. Acetyl CoA
• D. NADH

Answer: (A)

When oxygen isn’t available, glycolysis still breaks glucose into pyruvate, but there’s no oxygen to take up the electrons in the mitochondria. To keep glycolysis going, the cell recycles NAD+ by converting pyruvate into lactate (lactic acid) using electrons from NADH. This lactate is the direct end product of glucose breakdown under anaerobic conditions, and the regenerated NAD+ lets glycolysis continue to supply a small amount of ATP. Acetyl CoA formation needs oxygen, and NADH is a carrier produced during glycolysis but isn’t the final product in anaerobic glycolysis.

When oxygen isn’t available, glycolysis still breaks glucose into pyruvate, but there’s no oxygen to take up the electrons in the mitochondria. To keep glycolysis going, the cell recycles NAD+ by converting pyruvate into lactate (lactic acid) using electrons from NADH. This lactate is the direct end product of glucose breakdown under anaerobic conditions, and the regenerated NAD+ lets glycolysis continue to supply a small amount of ATP. Acetyl CoA formation needs oxygen, and NADH is a carrier produced during glycolysis but isn’t the final product in anaerobic glycolysis.