Link Reaction

• Key facts about the link reaction

  • occurs in the mitochondrial matrix
  • links glycolysis to the krebs cycle
  • pyruvate enters by active transport
• Process of the link reaction

  • pyruvate is oxidised to acetate
  • one of the three carbon atoms in pyruvate forms carbon dioxide using an oxidation reaction that reduces NAD to reduced NAD
  • acetate then combines with coenzyme A to produce acetylcoenzyme A
• For one glucose molecule entering the link reaction

  • 2 acetylcoenzyme A are produced
  • 4 reduced NAD enter the electron transport chain, 2 from glycolysis and 2 from link reaction
  • 2 carbon dioxide molecules are released as waste product
  • 2 ATP molecules