Entering the Link Reaction
- The end product of glycolysis is pyruvate
- Pyruvate contains a substantial amount of chemical energy that can be further utilised in respiration to produce more ATP
- When oxygen is available pyruvate will enter the mitochondrial matrix and aerobic respiration will continue
- Pyruvate moves across the double membrane of the mitochondria via active transport
- It requires a transport protein and a small amount of ATP
- Once in the mitochondrial matrix pyruvate takes part in the link reaction
Pyruvate enters the mitochondrial matrix from the cytosol (cytoplasm) by active transport