Pyruvate Oxidation

Pyruvate oxidation occurs in the inner membrane of the mitochondria.
This process is a source of acetyl-CoA molecules for the citric acid cycle.

Pyruvate oxidation occurs in three easy steps.

First, the pyruvate is oxidized (it goes from 3C to 2C acetyl.  CO₂ is released as a result).

Secondly, NAD⁺ is reduced to NADH

Finally, the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex attaches CoA to acetyl.

The total energy yield for this process is 2NADH's.

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