5.2.2 Link Reaction

• Link Reaction = oxidises pyruvate to acetyl CoA and NADH
• pyruvate + NAD + CoA --> acetyl CoA + NADH + CO2
• Steps of Link reaction

  1. Pyruvate is oxidised to acetate (2 carbon) and loses a CO2 molecule and 2 hydrogen molecules
  2. These hydrogen molecules are accepted by NAD to form NADH
  3. Acetate combines with coenzyme A to produce acetylcoenzyme A

  
• Importance of NADH = used later to produce ATP