Pyruvate conversion to lactic acid or acetyl-CoA depends on oxygen availability in cellular respiration.
In the absence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted to lactic acid. This process occurs under anaerobic conditions, where pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid to reoxidize NADH.
On the other hand, in the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA, which then enters the citric acid cycle for further energy production.
This differentiation in pyruvate metabolism based on oxygen availability is crucial in understanding cellular respiration and energy production processes.
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