Under aerobic conditions pyruvate is primarily converted to which molecule before entering the citric acid cycle, and what happens to pyruvate under anaerobic conditions?

• A. Aerobic: converted to creatine phosphate for rapid ATP buffering; Anaerobic: oxidized in mitochondria to produce large amounts of ATP.
• B. Aerobic: converted to lactate and exported to the liver; Anaerobic: converted into fatty acids directly within the cytosol for immediate energy release.
• C. Aerobic: converted to acetyl-CoA and enters the citric acid cycle; Anaerobic: converted to lactate via lactate dehydrogenase.
• D. Aerobic: broken down directly into ATP in the cytosol; Anaerobic: incorporated into glycogen stores in muscle for short term usage.

Answer: (C)