Understand pyruvate decarboxylation
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AP Biology › Understand pyruvate decarboxylation
Which is not a product of pyruvate decarboxylation reaction?
acetyl
Explanation
The pyruvate decarboxylation reaction is pyruvate+ CoA-SH+ NAD+ -> NADH+ CO2+ acetyl CoA.
For each glucose molecule that undergoes glycolysis, how many acetyl CoA molecules are produced at the end of pyruvate decarboxylation?
2
1
4
32
Explanation
During glycolysis, for each molecule of glucose, two molecules of pyruvate are produced ( glucose+ NAD+ + 2 ADP + 2Pi-> 2 pyruvate+ 2 ATP + 2NADH+. These 2 molecules of pyruvate then undergo the pyruvate decarboxylation reaction: 2(pyruvate+ CoA-SH+ NAD+ -> NADH+ CO2+ acetyl CoA).
During pyruvate decarboxylation reaction, pyruvate is converted to _______________ compound, through a reaction called ______________ .
acetyl CoA; oxidative decarboxylation
acetyl CoA; reductive decarboxylation
NADH; oxidative decarboxylation
ATP; decomposition
Explanation
Pyruvate decarboxylation is an oxidative decarboxylation reaction, or an oxidation reaction where a carboxylate group is removed. This reaction converts pyruvate which was produced through glycolysis to acetyl CoA to be used in the Citric Acid Cycle.
During the pyruvate decarboxylation reaction, acetyl CoA is produced through which type of bond linking an acetyl group to coenzyme A?
hydrogen bond
ionic bond
thioester bond
acetylase bond
Explanation
During the pyruvate decarboxylation reaction 
Where does the pyruvate decarboxylation reaction occur?
Cytosol
Mitochondrial matrix
Cristae
Outer mitochondrial membrane
Explanation
Pyruvate decarboxylation occurs in the mitochondrial matrix. The acetyl CoA produced from the pyruvate decarboxylation reaction will undergo the Citric Acid cycle also in the mitochondrial matrix.
Which enzyme complex catalyzes the pyruvate decarboxylation reaction?
pyruvate reductase
pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
pyruvate oxidase
acetyl dehydrogenase
Explanation
The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is an enzyme complex that consists of 3 enzymes, which work together to catalyze the pyruvate decarboxylation reaction, where pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA.