Pyruvate Oxidation - Step 2 of Cellular Respiration

For cells with mitochondria & a supply of oxygen, the pyruvate will be processed into

carbon dioxide & more energy collected

In order to move pyruvate into the mitochondria

Pyruvate oxidation occurs which is technically neither part of glycolysis or the Krebs Cycle.

Pyruvate Oxidation removes what as waste

Releases Carbon Dioxide

1 Glucose creates

2 pyruvate

End Result:

For 1 glucose
(2 pyruvate): 

2-NADH created 

2 acetyl-CoA created

2 CO₂ (released as waste)

This process is significantly slower than fermentation (anererobic), but removal of pyruvate from the cytoplasm is what keeps

glycolysis functioning.

Pyruvate is broken down and turned into acetyl-CoA. During this process, high energy electrons are

released and stored in an electron carrier called NADH.

What happens to CO2

is removed, from each pyruvate

Coenzyme A (CoA) attaches to acetate to form

acetyl-CoA.

NAD+ reduced to

NADH and acetate (2C) forms

What is NADH

an electron carrier, which throws it into the electron transfer chain, then comes back to be oxidized for the cycle to repeat again.

Pyruvate is

toxic to bodies

Pyruvate oxidation cannot occur in

prokaryotic cells

Matrix

Protein-rich liquid

Cristae

Folds of the inner membrane

Inner Membrane

Highly folded

Outer Membrane

Smooth