Lactic acid is produced from pyruvic acid during anaerobic metabolism. True or false?

Lactic acid is produced from pyruvic acid during anaerobic metabolism. True or false?

• A. False
• B. Not specified
• C. Only in plants
• D. True

Answer: (D)

During anaerobic metabolism, cells need to regenerate NAD+ to keep glycolysis going, since oxygen isn’t present to act as the final electron acceptor in the mitochondria. Pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid (lactate) by lactate dehydrogenase, using NADH and producing NAD+. This regeneration of NAD+ allows glycolysis to continue, producing a small amount of ATP without oxygen. This lactic acid formation is observed in exercising muscle and in many microbes, so the statement is true. The idea that this only happens in plants or that the information isn’t specified isn’t accurate, and the false option doesn’t apply here.

During anaerobic metabolism, cells need to regenerate NAD+ to keep glycolysis going, since oxygen isn’t present to act as the final electron acceptor in the mitochondria. Pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid (lactate) by lactate dehydrogenase, using NADH and producing NAD+. This regeneration of NAD+ allows glycolysis to continue, producing a small amount of ATP without oxygen. This lactic acid formation is observed in exercising muscle and in many microbes, so the statement is true. The idea that this only happens in plants or that the information isn’t specified isn’t accurate, and the false option doesn’t apply here.