What is the end product of glycolysis?

The end product of glycolysis is pyruvic acid, also known as pyruvate. This metabolic pathway occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and is the process through which glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. Glycolysis involves a series of ten enzymatic reactions that convert glucose – a six-carbon sugar – into two three-carbon molecules of pyruvate. During this process, energy is also captured in the form of ATP and NADH.

Pyruvate is a critical intermediate that can enter the next stages of cellular respiration. Under aerobic conditions, it can be further oxidized in the mitochondria to produce acetyl CoA, which then enters the Krebs cycle. Conversely, under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate may be converted to lactic acid in some organisms, such as human muscle cells, or to ethanol and carbon dioxide in yeast.

In summary, the correct answer highlights the primary product of glycolysis, emphasizing its importance as a metabolic precursor in the pathways of energy production.