Question
WHICH TEARM BEST DESCRIBES THE REACTION THE MAKES PYRUVIC ACIDS DURING CELLULAR RESPIRATION?
Answers
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GPT-4o mini
The term that best describes the reaction that involves pyruvic acid during cellular respiration is **"decarboxylation."**
During cellular respiration, particularly in the transition from glycolysis to the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), pyruvic acid undergoes decarboxylation. In this process, pyruvic acid (which is a 3-carbon compound) loses one carbon atom, which is released as carbon dioxide (CO₂), resulting in the formation of acetyl-CoA (a 2-carbon molecule). This reaction is a crucial step that links glycolysis to the citric acid cycle.
During cellular respiration, particularly in the transition from glycolysis to the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), pyruvic acid undergoes decarboxylation. In this process, pyruvic acid (which is a 3-carbon compound) loses one carbon atom, which is released as carbon dioxide (CO₂), resulting in the formation of acetyl-CoA (a 2-carbon molecule). This reaction is a crucial step that links glycolysis to the citric acid cycle.