Link reaction

• Pyruvate and reduced NADH, products from glycolysis, must be actively transported from the cytoplasm into the mitochondrial matrix.
• In the link reaction, pyruvate is oxidized into acetate, losing hydrogen to coenzyme NAD, forming NADH.
• Acetate is then converted into acetyl coenzyme A, ready to enter the Krebs cycle.
• If two pyruvates are created from one glucose molecule, the link reaction would happen twice, resulting in two times each of the products.