In addition to the production of four ATP molecules, several other products are produced during the conversion of pyruvic acid during cellular respiration. These include:
1. NADH: For each pyruvic acid molecule, three molecules of NADH are produced. NADH is an electron carrier that carries high-energy electrons to the electron transport chain, where they are used to generate more ATP.
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2): One molecule of CO2 is released as a waste product during the conversion of each pyruvic acid molecule.
3. Acetyl-CoA: Pyruvic acid is converted into acetyl-CoA before entering the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle). Acetyl-CoA is a high-energy compound that enters the citric acid cycle to generate more ATP.
It is important to note that the production of ATP and other products during cellular respiration is a complex process that occurs in different stages (glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, and the citric acid cycle) within the cell.
During cellular respiration Four total ATP are produced when pyruvic acid is created. What else is produced as a result of this reaction?
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