A) Which 3-carbon molecule is one of the final products of glycolysis? (1 point)
NAD+
oxaloacetic acid
ADP
pyruvic acid
pyruvic acid
The 3-carbon molecule that is one of the final products of glycolysis is pyruvic acid. To determine this, it is important to understand the process of glycolysis and the intermediates involved.
Glycolysis is the initial step in cellular respiration, where glucose is broken down into pyruvate molecules. It occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and consists of a series of reactions that ultimately produce two molecules of pyruvate from one molecule of glucose.
During glycolysis, a series of enzymatic reactions convert glucose to pyruvic acid. Initially, glucose is phosphorylated to form glucose-6-phosphate, which is then converted to fructose-6-phosphate. Further enzymatic reactions lead to the formation of two molecules of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P). Each G3P molecule is then oxidized and phosphorylated, yielding two molecules of pyruvic acid.
Therefore, pyruvic acid is one of the final products of glycolysis.