The breakdown of pyruvate occurs in the mitochondria during aerobic respiration, resulting in the production of three molecules of carbon dioxide and water.
Where does the breakdown of pyruvate occur during aerobic respiration, and what are the final products?
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During aerobic respiration, the breakdown of pyruvate occurs in the mitochondria. Pyruvate, a three-carbon molecule produced in the cytoplasm through glycolysis, enters the mitochondrial matrix. In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate undergoes the Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle. In this cycle, each pyruvate is completely oxidized, releasing carbon dioxide and generating reduced cofactors, NADH and FADH₂. The final products of the Krebs cycle include ATP, NADH, FADH₂, and carbon dioxide. The reduced cofactors, NADH and FADH₂, then participate in the subsequent oxidative phosphorylation to produce additional ATP, completing the breakdown of pyruvate.