Module 6 - Citric Acid Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

Anaplerotic Reactions

A

Chemical reactions that form intermediates of a metabolic pathway in order to replenish them.

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2
Q

Glyoxylate Cycle

A

A pathway present in plants and some microorganisms that allow the conversion of fats to carbohydrates.

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3
Q

Oxidative Decarboxylation

A

An oxidation reaction in which a carboxylate group is removed, forming carbon dioxide.

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4
Q

citric acid cycle

A

This is the metabolic pathway where the complete oxidation of fuels to CO2 occurs, and where the high-energy electrons that result from this oxidation are generated.

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5
Q

What else can the citric acid cycle be called?

A

the tricarboxylic acid cycle - named for the presence of intermediates that have three carboxylate groups

the Krebs cycle - named after the scientist Sir Hans Kreb who proposed the existence of this cycle

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6
Q

What is the starting molecule of the citric acid cycle?

A

Acetyl CoA

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7
Q

Where does citric acid occur in the cell?

A

in the mitochondria

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7
Q

How does pyruvate become Acetyl CoA?

A

pyruvate is converted to acetyl Coenzyme A (acetyl CoA) by the enzyme complex called the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Pyruvate + CoA + NAD+ → acetyl CoA + CO2 + NADH + H+

Note that this is a redox reaction (loss of electrons from pyruvate which are gained by NAD+ to form NADH) and a decarboxylation reaction (pyruvate is a 3-carbon molecule while acetyl CoA has 2 carbons).

For this reason, it is called an oxidative decarboxylation

This reaction, like most decarboxylation reactions, is irreversible.

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8
Q

What are the other sources of Acetyl CoA?

A

acetyl CoA produced by any means is able to enter the citric acid cycle and thus used to generate ATP.

In fact, we will see in future modules that the breakdown of fats and some amino acids result in the production of acetyl CoA, which is why they both are useful fuels

acetyl CoA has other possible metabolic fates; for example, it can be used to synthesize cholesterol, fatty acids, and ketone bodies.

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9
Q

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex

A

There is an oxidation-reduction;
a decarboxylation;
and a transfer of CoA to the acetyl group

this reaction is catalyzed by a large enzyme complex that contains three different enzymes and five coenzymes

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10
Q

What are the 3 enzymes that make up the Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex?

A

Note that three of the coenzymes; TPP, lipoamide, and FAD, are prosthetic groups which means they are covalently attached to their corresponding enzyme. The other two coenzymes, NAD and CoA, function as substrates in this reaction.

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11
Q

why do these enzymes exist in a complex?

A

the three enzymes (depicted by the yellow, green and red circles) work together

By having the three enzymes close in proximity to each other, the overall reaction rate is increased by keeping the intermediates bound to the complex throughout the reaction. Moreover, the intermediates are not lost to side reactions that could significantly reduce the flux through this step.

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12
Q

How is The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex regulated

A

it is regulated in two ways

First, and most important of the two, it is regulated by covalent modification, specifically phosphorylation

There is a specific kinase, called pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, which phosphorylates the E1 component which results in the inactivation of the complex

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is also regulated allosterically by molecules which reflect high or low energy charge in the cell

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13
Q

How do the allosteric modifiers change the activity of PDH?

A

by promoting phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of the complex

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14
Q

What is a simple overview of the citric acid cycle?

A

Acetyl CoA, a C2 (2-carbon) molecule, condenses with a C4 molecule to form a C6 molecule

The C6 molecule undergoes two oxidative decarboxylations to release two CO2 and high energy electrons in the form of NADH

The resulting C4 molecule is further oxidized to capture more high-energy electrons in the form of NADH and FADH2 in stage 2

The resulting C4 molecule, oxaloacetate, is able to condense with another acetyl CoA to produce another C6 molecule, allowing the cycle to continue on

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15
Q

What is the basic summary of the citric acid cycle?

A

a two-carbon molecule enters the cycle (acetyl CoA), and two carbons are lost during the cycle as CO2

there isn’t much ATP produced in this cycle, just one ATP for every acetyl CoA

the high-energy electrons captured in the form of NADH and FADH2 will be used to generate ATP in a process called oxidative phosphorylation

glucose, fatty acids, and some amino acids can all be metabolized to acetyl CoA and therefore enter into the citric acid cycle.

16
Q

What is the detailed summary of the citric acid cycle?

A

it consists of 8 reactions

it produces 3 NADH, 1 FADH2, 1 ATP, and 2 CO2

it is a true cycle since oxaloacetate, which condenses with acetyl CoA, is reformed during the cycle which allows the cycle to continue

17
Q

The first reaction in the cycle cycle

A

Acetyl CoA enters the citric acid cycle by condensing with oxaloacetate to form a 6-carbon molecule called citrate, with the release of CoA.

This reaction is catalyzed by citrate synthase. Note that citrate has three carboxylate groups; two of these will eventually be lost as CO2 molecules.

the energy required for the condensation is obtained from the hydrolysis of the thioester between CoA and the acetyl group.

18
Q

synthase enzymes

A

catalyze synthetic reactions where two units are joined together, or condensed, without the requirement for energy from ATP hydrolysis

19
Q

synthetases

A

Synthetic enzymes that require the energy from ATP hydrolysis

20
Q

The second step of the cycle

A

citrate is converted to isocitrate through an isomerization reaction catalyzed by aconitase

This reaction changes the position of the hydroxyl group.

By repositioning the hydroxyl group, the subsequent reactions are facilitated

21
Q

The third step of the cycle

A

Isocitrate dehydrogenase converts isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate

This is an oxidative decarboxylation reaction, where high-energy electrons are captured in NADH, and CO2 is released.

22
Q

The fourth step of the cycle

A

In another oxidative decarboxylation reaction, α-ketoglutarate is converted to succinyl CoA

this reaction is catalyzed by
α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.

NADH is produced from the captured electrons, and another CO2 is released.

For the cycle to continue, succinyl CoA has to be converted to oxaloacetate so it can condense with another acetyl CoA

23
Q

The fifth step of the cycle (start of stage 2)

A

succinyl CoA is converted to succinate by succinyl CoA synthetase

The thioester bond between CoA is cleaved, and the energy released is used to generate a molecule of ATP

23
Q

The sixth to eighth step of the cycle

A

Once succinate is formed, there are three more reactions that occur that regenerate oxaloacetate.

They are catalyzed by succinate dehydrogenase, fumarase, and malate dehydrogenase

The high-energy electrons that are generated from the additional oxidations that occur in two of these reactions are captured in the form of FADH2 and NADH

24
Q

What is the net reaction of the citric acid cycle

A

Acetyl CoA + 3 NAD+ + FAD + ADP + Pi + 2 H2O → 2 CO2 + 3 NADH + FADH2 + ATP + 2 H+ + CoA

25
Q

What are the key enzymes that regulate the citric acid cycle?

A

The two key enzymes regulated are isocitrate dehydrogenase and
α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and both are regulated by allosteric mechanisms

Since the major goal of the cycle is to produce energy, not surprisingly molecules such as NADH and ATP which reflect a positive energy charge in the cell inhibits isocitrate dehydrogenase, while ADP, which reflects a low energy charge, activates the enzyme.

Similarly, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase is inhibited by ATP and NADH, as well as the product of its reaction, succinyl CoA.

26
Q

What happens when isocitrate dehydrogenase is inhibited?

A

levels of citrate will increase.

Citrate can move to the cytosol, where one of its actions is to inhibit phosphofructokinase, the rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis

27
Q

What happens when
α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase is inhibited?

A

the increase in α-ketoglutarate that occurs is used in the synthesis of amino acids and other biomolecules.

28
Q

While the major role of the citric acid cycle is to oxidize acetyl CoA for ATP generation what is its other role?

A

to provide intermediates for the biosynthesis of a number of other biomolecules

29
Q

The Citric Acid Cycle Can Be Replenished When Intermediates Are Drawn Off for Biosynthetic Processes

A

One of the most important anaplerotic reaction is the synthesis of oxaloacetate from pyruvate and CO2 by pyruvate carboxylase

The oxaloacetate produced by this enzyme can be used for glucose synthesis in liver when a higher energy state exists, but it can also be used to replenish the citric acid cycle when the energy charge is low

30
Q

The Glyoxylate Cycle Enables Plants and Bacteria to Convert Fats into Carbohydrates

A

This pathway is similar to the citric acid cycle, but differs in that two molecules of acetyl CoA enter the pathway at different points in the cycle rather than just one

there are no decarboxylation steps and thus no carbons are lost

Succinate can be used to form glucose using reactions in the citric acid cycle and gluconeogenesis