Question

Conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl Co-A is

• A. Oxidative decarboxylation
• B. Reduction
• C. Carboxylation
• D. Dehydrogenation and transamination

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Oxidative decarboxylation

Oxidative decarboxylation refers to the oxidation of substrate with simultaneous removal of CO${}_2$ molecule from it. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex catalyzes irreversible oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate into acetyl CoA and carbon dioxide. NAD serves to oxidize pyruvate and is itself reduced into NADH. Since one CO${}_2$ molecule is removed from the pyruvate during oxidation, it is oxidative decarboxylation. So, the correct answer is option A.