Oxidized
Before the Krebs cycle can proceed, pyruvate must be converted into acetyl-CoA through a process known as pyruvate decarboxylation. This reaction occurs in the mitochondria and is catalyzed by the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Acetyl-CoA then enters the Krebs cycle to be further metabolized for energy production.
The end product of glycolysis is pyruvate, which is converted into acetyl-CoA before entering the Krebs cycle. Acetyl-CoA combines with oxaloacetate to initiate the Krebs cycle, where it undergoes a series of reactions to produce ATP and high-energy electron carriers.
Fats and proteins are brought into the Krebs cycle by being converted. They can either be converted to glucose or acetyl which will go through Krebs cycle.
Pyruvate
Before the Krebs cycle can begin, pyruvate molecules must move from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria. Once inside the mitochondria, each pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA through a process called pyruvate decarboxylation. This conversion also produces carbon dioxide and NADH, which are important for cellular respiration. Acetyl-CoA then enters the Krebs cycle to facilitate energy production.
For every molecule of pyruvate entering the Krebs cycle, 3 molecules of CO2 are released. Since each glucose molecule produces 2 molecules of pyruvate through glycolysis, the total number of CO2 molecules released per glucose molecule in the Krebs cycle is 6.
The formation of acetyl-CoA
Pyruvate is transported to the mitochondria to serve as a starting point for the Krebs cycle. Once in the mitochondria, pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA, which then enters the Krebs cycle to be oxidized for energy production.
Pyruvate -> Acetyl CoA -> Citrate which is used by the Krebs or Citric Acid Cycle.
pyruvate
In Glycolysis, the final compound formed is Pyruvate. Now, pyruvate has to be transformed to Acetyl-CoA by the substitution of the carboxylic group with a Coenzyme A by pyruvate dehydrogenase. In real terms, Acetyl-CoA is the molecule that "switch on" the Krebs cycle.
The Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle, must run once for each molecule of pyruvate. Since one glucose molecule produces two pyruvate molecules during glycolysis, the Krebs cycle runs twice for each glucose molecule. Therefore, for one molecule of pyruvate, the cycle runs just once.