Link's reaction

• Link's reaction occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and links glycolysis and the Kreb's cycle together
• In link's reaction, pyruvate is converted into acetyl CoA
• Pyruvic acid + NAD+ + coenzyme A -> Acetyl-CoA + CO2 + NADH
• If there is oxygen available after glycolysis, pyruvate is actively transported from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix
• The Link reaction occurs twice for each glucose molecule as each glucose molecule produced 2 pyruvate molecules in glycolysis
• Pyruvate undergoes oxidative decarboxylation which removes carbon in the form of carbon dioxide due to the action of the decarboxylase enzyme
• Acetyl CoA can be used by the Kreb's cycle or it can be stored as fatty acids if energy stores are high
• NAD is reduced by hydrogen to form reduced NAD
• Acetate is activated by combining it with co-enzyme a to form acetyl co-enzyme a (2C sugar) which enters the Kreb's cycle
• Pyruvate undergoes dehydrogenation which removes 2 hydrogen ions per pyruvate molecule through the action of the dehydrogenase enzyme