medium · MCAT bio-biochem
An athlete is sprinting a 100-meter dash. Which of the following best describes the metabolic fate of pyruvate in their active muscle cells during this intense, short-duration exercise?
- Pyruvate is transported to the mitochondria to be converted into acetyl-CoA for the Citric Acid Cycle.
- Pyruvate is reduced to lactate in the cytoplasm to regenerate NAD^+ for continued glycolysis.
- Pyruvate is decarboxylated into ethanol to prevent the buildup of acidic metabolites.
- Pyruvate is converted to glucose via gluconeogenesis within the muscle cell to provide more fuel.
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