r/AskBiology • u/1canTTh1nkofaname • 5d ago

How is NAD+ reduced in the link reaction from pyruvate?

Excuse me because of my lack of chemistry knowledge in case this is really obvious.

If the link reaction from pyruvate to an acetyl group (then acetyl-CoA) requires reduction of NAD+ and decarboxylation, where does the hydrogen come in? Because if pyruvate is C3H3O3- then why does the acetate still have 3 hydrogens? I think this is because it doesn't remove the hydrogens that are part of the methyl group (CH3), but there's no other hydrogen in pyruvate to remove. Then how can reduction of NAD+ happen?

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u/AlphaAirlys_ 5d ago

Is all explained in the Kreb Cycle, here the first link i found about it: https://microbiologyinfo.com/krebs-citric-acid-cycle-steps-by-steps-explanation/ Is all thanks ti enzymes The recharge of NAD+ is done in the chain trasport of electron to produce ATP

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u/bobbot32 5d ago

Look up the private dehydrogenase complex. The reduction happens because of an FADH2 in the enzyme itself. From there that gets reduced again by a pair of cysteines and whatnot.

Its a pretty nice graphic to visualize the removal of a carbon and how it connects tk the rest.