LINK REACTION

• WHERE DOES THE LINK REACTION OCCUR?

  mitochondria matrix
• PROCESS OF THE LINK REACTION?

  1. Pyruvate molecules actively transported into mitochondria matrix
  2. Pyruvate oxidised to two acetate molecules (each molecule loses a CO2 molecule and two hydrogens)
  3. Two hydrogens accepted by NAD
  4. Becomes reduced NAD which is later used to produce ATP
  5. Acetate combines with coenzyme A (CoA) to produce acetylcoenzyme A
• HOW MANY CARBONS IN ACETATE?

  2C
• EQUATION FOR THE LINK REACTION?

  pyruvate + NAD + CoA -> acetylCoA + r.NAD + CO2
• PRODUCTS OF THE LINK REACTION?

  acetylcoenzyme A, reduced NAD, CO2