The link reaction

• Oxidative decarboxylation (link reaction) steps

  1. A pyruvate enters the mitochondrial matrix by active transport, it then undergoes decarboxylation and dehydrogenation (oxidation)
  2. the hydrogen removed are accepted by NAD to form reduced NAD
  3. the two carbon acetyl group is bound by coenzyme A forming acetlycoenzyme A
  4. this delievers the acetyl group to the krebs cycle

  
• What is reduced NAD product used for


  Used in oxidative phosphorylation to synthesis ATP
• what happens to the product CO2

  It will diffuse away and be used as metabolic waste