What happens to the pyruvate produced in glycolysis in the presence of oxygen?

When glycolysis occurs in the presence of oxygen, the pyruvate produced as a result of glucose breakdown is transported into the mitochondria, where it undergoes further processing. Specifically, it enters the Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle or TCA cycle. During this cycle, pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA, which is the substrate that enters the Krebs cycle.

This process is crucial for cellular respiration, as it allows for the complete oxidation of glucose, leading to the production of ATP, NADH, and FADH2, which are essential for the cell's energy needs. In the presence of oxygen, aerobic respiration is highly efficient compared to anaerobic processes, enabling the organism to generate significantly more ATP from the original glucose molecule.