Read the following statements regarding the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate during aerobic respiration: (A) This reaction takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. (B) It requires the presence of Mg ²⁺ ions as a cofactor. (C) It involves the conversion of a 3-carbon molecule into a 2-carbon molecule. (D) The reaction is catalysed by the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase. How many of the above statements are correct

Step-by-step solution

Statement (A) is incorrect because the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate (the link reaction) takes place in the mitochondrial matrix, not the cytoplasm. Statement (B) is correct as the reaction strictly requires Mg ²⁺ ions as a cofactor for the enzyme complex. Statement (C) is correct because pyruvate is a 3-carbon compound, which undergoes decarboxylation (loss of CO ₂ ) to form acetyl CoA, a 2-carbon compound. Statement (D) is correct as the enzyme catalysing this step is pyruvate dehydrogenase. Thus, three s