Final answer:
The transfer of the carboxyl group in the pyruvate to oxaloacetate reaction is facilitated by the enzyme complex pyruvate dehydrogenase in the transition reaction. This reaction occurs in the mitochondrial matrix in eukaryotes and in the cytoplasm in prokaryotes. In this reaction, pyruvate is decarboxylated, producing a two-carbon acetyl group and releasing carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transfer of the carboxyl group in the pyruvate to oxaloacetate reaction is facilitated by the enzyme complex pyruvate dehydrogenase in the transition reaction. This reaction occurs in the mitochondrial matrix in eukaryotes and in the cytoplasm in prokaryotes. In this reaction, pyruvate is decarboxylated, producing a two-carbon acetyl group and releasing carbon dioxide. The acetyl group is then attached to coenzyme A (CoA) to form acetyl-CoA, which can enter the next phase of the metabolic process.