Now, what exactly is the purpose of pyruvate decarboxylation? Well, basically, it links it connects the process of glycolysis and the citric acid cycle that also takes place within the mitochondrion, which we'll discuss in detail in the next lecture. So pyruvate decarboxylation is the link between glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, and it produces an important molecule known as acetylco enzyme A that is used as the fuel source in the citric acid cycle. Now, one last point that I want to emphasize is the following. Now, Pyruvate decarboxylation does not actually need oxygen to take place. Meaning, there's no oxygen in the reacting or the product portion of this pyruvate decarboxylation.