Final answer:
Coenzyme A and NAD+ are the two things needed to take pyruvate to acetyl-Coenzyme A. First, pyruvate is transformed into acetyl CoA by attaching an acetyl group to coenzyme A and removing a molecule of carbon dioxide. Then, the high-energy electrons generated are picked up by NAD+ to form NADH.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two things needed to take pyruvate to acetyl-Coenzyme A are Coenzyme A and NAD+
- First, pyruvate is transformed into an acetyl group attached to a carrier molecule of coenzyme A, forming acetyl CoA. This process involves removing a molecule of carbon dioxide from pyruvate.
- Then, the high-energy electrons generated during this conversion are picked up by NAD+, forming NADH. NADH carries the electrons to a later pathway for ATP production.