What is the end product of glycolysis that enters the mitochondrial matrix?

The end product of glycolysis that enters the mitochondrial matrix is pyruvate. Glycolysis is the process by which glucose is broken down in the cytoplasm of the cell to produce energy. This process yields two molecules of pyruvate as a result of a series of enzymatic reactions.

Once glycolysis is completed, pyruvate molecules are transported into the mitochondria where further processing occurs. In the mitochondrial matrix, each pyruvate undergoes a transformation into acetyl-CoA through a process called oxidative decarboxylation. This conversion is crucial as acetyl-CoA then enters the citric acid cycle, leading to further energy production.

Thus, it is pyruvate that is directly produced at the end of glycolysis and is the compound that moves into the mitochondria for subsequent metabolic processes. Other options mentioned, such as lactate and oxaloacetate, play roles in different metabolic pathways, but they do not represent the direct product of glycolysis that enters the mitochondrial matrix.