What are the main organic compounds used in the cellular respiration process?

The main organic compounds used during cellular respiration include glucose, pyruvate, NADH and FADH2, and acetyl-CoA. Cellular respiration uses glucose to produce energy in the form of ATP. Glucose (a six-carbon sugar) initiates glycolysis, which is the first step of cellular respiration. The molecule is converted into two pyruvate molecules, which is a byproduct of glycolysis, as well as the initiator of the TCA cycle. During aerobic respiration, pyruvate moves inside the mitochondria, for the next steps of cellular respiration. During anaerobic respiration, pyruvate is converted to other compounds such as lactic acid in lactic acid fermentation. Acetyl-CoA is formed from each pyruvate molecule (by oxidative decarboxylation) during aerobic respiration; it becomes oxidized further within the mitochondria. NADH and FADH2 are high energy electron carriers used to deliver electrons to the ETC.