pyruvate oxidation/processing

Question 1

where is pyruvate transported into during cellular respiration

Answer 1

into the mitochondria
This is transported via a carrier protein.

Question 2

The 3-carbon pyruvate is converted to acetyl Co-A by:

Answer 2

• Giving up 2 electrons to NAD+ (becomes NADH)
• Oxidizing one carbon as CO2 (electrons lost in this process are given to NAD+, which is reduced to NADH)
• The acetyl group (CH3OC) left has lots of potential energy! It is transferred to coenzyme A to become Acetyl CoA

Question 3

decarboxylation

Answer 3

• carbon oxidized into CO2 and released as waste
• CO2 is the most oxidized and least energetic form of carbon

Question 4

what does pyruvate combine with to produce acetyl CoA

Answer 4

Coenzyme A