Fate of pyruvic acid during aerobic respiration is

Options

A. lactic acid fermentation
B. alcoholic fermentation
C. oxidative decarboxylation
D. oxidative phosphorylation

Answer

C

Explanation

During aerobic respiration, pyruvic acid which is formed during glycolysis enters mitochondrial matrix. It undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to produce `CO_(2)` and NADH. The product combines with sulphur containing coenzyme A to form acetyl CoA. This reaction is calalysed by an enzyme complex pyruvate dehydrogenase. This step is called link reaction or gateway step as it links glycolysis with Krebs' cycle
`"Pyruvic acid + CoA + NAD"^(+) underset("Pyruvate dehydrogenase")overset(Mg^(2+))(rarr) "Acetyl CoA +CO"_(2) +"NADH +H"^(+)`