In preparing pyruvate to enter the citric acid cycle, which of the following steps occurs?
A
Pyruvate is reduced, and a molecule of carbon dioxide is removed. The electrons removed in this process are used to oxidize NAD+ to NADH.
B
Pyruvate is oxidized, and a molecule of carbon dioxide is removed. The electrons removed in this process are donated to NADH to produce NAD+.
C
Pyruvate is reduced to acetyl-coA, which involves the reduction of pyruvate, the addition of a carbon dioxide from the environment, and its reduction by NADH.
D
Pyruvate is ionized directly to acetyl-coA.
E
Pyruvate is oxidized, and a molecule of carbon dioxide is removed. The electrons removed in this process are used to reduce NAD+ to NADH.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that pyruvate must be converted to acetyl-CoA before entering the citric acid cycle. This process is known as pyruvate decarboxylation.
Recognize that during this conversion, pyruvate undergoes oxidation. This means it loses electrons.
Identify that a molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from pyruvate during this process, which is a decarboxylation reaction.
Acknowledge that the electrons removed from pyruvate are transferred to NAD+, reducing it to NADH. This is a key step in cellular respiration as NADH carries electrons to the electron transport chain.
Conclude that the correct description of the process is: Pyruvate is oxidized, and a molecule of carbon dioxide is removed. The electrons removed in this process are used to reduce NAD+ to NADH.