Many cancer cells carry out glycolysis at a high rate but convert most of the resulting pyruvate to Show more Many cancer cells carry out glycolysis at a high rate but convert most of the resulting pyruvate to lactate rather than to acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA however is required for the synthesis of fatty acids which are needed in large amounts by rapidly growing cancer cells. In these cells the isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction apparently operates in reverse. Explain why this reaction could facilitate the conversion of amino acids such as glutamate into fatty acids. Show less
