What is the immediate product of reactions catalyzed by pyruvate kinase in glycolysis?

Pyruvate kinase catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to pyruvate in the final step of glycolysis. This reaction is a crucial step in the metabolic pathway because it not only generates pyruvate, which can enter either the citric acid cycle under aerobic conditions or be converted to lactate under anaerobic conditions, but it also plays a significant role in the overall energy yield of glycolysis by producing ATP.

During this reaction, a phosphate group is transferred from PEP to ADP, resulting in the formation of ATP and pyruvate as the immediate products. The specificity of the reaction ensures that pyruvate is the primary outcome, emphasizing its role as a key metabolic intermediate. Thus, the correct identification of pyruvate as the immediate product underlines its importance in cellular metabolism following glycolysis.