Question

Which one of the following reactions is an example of oxidative decarboxylation?

• A. Conversion of succinate to fumarate.
• B. Conversion of fumarate to malate.
• C. Conversion of pyruvate to acetyl Co-A.
• D. Conversion of citrate to isocitrate.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Conversion of pyruvate to acetyl Co-A.

The conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA is a linker step between glycolysis and Krebs cycle. After the entry of pyruvate in the mitochondria the acetylation takes place in the perimitochondrial space which is the space between the inner and outer mitochondrial membrane. Each molecule of pyruvic acid is oxidatively decarboxylated to acetyl coA by the action of an enzyme complex pyruvate dehydrogenase. The acetyl coA then enters the Krebs cycle. Thus the correct answer is option C.