Question

what is it called when a phosphate is added to pyruvate?
oxidative phosphorylation
substrate level phosphorylation
mitochondrial phosphorylation
reductive phosphorylation

Explanation:

• Oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the electron transport chain and is related to the transfer of electrons and generation of a proton gradient, not directly adding phosphate to pyruvate.
• Substrate - level phosphorylation is the process where a phosphate group is directly transferred from a substrate molecule (like in some steps of glycolysis and the citric acid cycle) to ADP to form ATP. When a phosphate is added to pyruvate in relevant metabolic pathways (e.g., in some anaerobic or aerobic metabolic steps where a high - energy intermediate donates a phosphate), it is substrate - level phosphorylation.
• Mitochondrial phosphorylation is a rather broad and less specific term compared to substrate - level phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation also occurs in mitochondria.
• Reductive phosphorylation is not a standard term for the process of adding a phosphate to pyruvate in common metabolic pathways.

Answer:

substrate level phosphorylation