12.2 The Link Reaction

• Before entering the Krebs Cycle, the pyruvate molecules must firstly be oxidised in the Link Reaction.
• The pyruvate molecules produced during glycolysis are actively transported into the matrix of the mitochondria for the Link Reaction.
• Within the Link Reaction, pyruvate is oxidised to acetate. In order to do this, pyruvate loses a carbon dioxide molecule and two hydrogen molecules. The hydrogens are later accepted by NAD to form reduced NAD (NADH).
• Once pyruvate has been oxidised to 2-carbon acetate, it combines with coenzyme A (CoA) to form acetylcoenzyme A (acetyl CoA).
• The overall equation for the Link reaction is : pyruvate + NAD + CoA -> acetyl CoA + NADH + CO2