TCA Cycle Flashcards
Main function of TCA cycle
Capture 8 electrons from Acetyl CoA
Acetyl CoA gets completely _____
Oxidized
TCA cycle chemistry
4 oxidation reduction reactions that transfer electrons
What type of bonds are important in the TCA cycle? Why?
Thioester bonds because they are high energy
Key regulatory enzyme are regulated by ?
ALL are regulated allosterically by energy charge
NONE are regulated hormonally
What can enter the TCA cycle?
All types of fuels- CHO, FA, amino acids, ethanol
Intermediates from the TCA cycle are also used for?
Biosynthesis
Ex. Making amino acids, substrates for purines and pyrimidines, protoporphyrin ring in heme
Total yield per 1 Acetyl CoA
2 CO2 3 NADH 1 FADH2 1 ATP (or GTP) 8 electrons
Catabolic role of TCA cycle? (4)
- Oxidizes acetyl CoA —> releases CO2
- Produces and delivers reducing equivalents (NADH and FADH2) to ETC
- Regenerates oxaloacetate (OAA)
- Generates a high energy molecule (ATP or GTP)
2 phases of the TCA cycle
Phase 1 = 4 reactions
- Oxidation of Acetyl CoA to yield 8 electrons and release 2 CO2
Phase 2 = 4 reactions
- Regenerate OAA
What needs to happen before acetyl CoA can be oxidized and why?
Have to combine acetyl CoA (2-C) with oxaloacetate (4-C) and carry out a beta cleavage
B/c acetyl CoA cannot be oxidized directly
BASIC summary of TCA cycle
Oxidize acetyl CoA —> release CO2 —> regenerate OAA —> capture all the energy as NADH and ATP
Step 1
Condensation reaction
Oxaloacetate + Acetyl CoA —> Citrate + CoA + H+
Enzyme: Citrate synthase
Ordered binding
- What step?
- What happens and why?
Step 1
OAA has to bind to citrate synthase first —> induce a conformational change to create a binding site for acetyl CoA
When is the thioester bond in acetyl CoA hydrolyzed?
Importance?
Step 1
Nrg release - ensures that reaction proceeds irreversibly in forward direction because OAA as a substrate in citrate synthase reaction is not sufficient enough to drive the cycle forward
Step 1 is a __________ reaction
Explain
First and last reaction of cycle are COUPLED
OAA + Acetyl CoA —> Citrate + CoA + H+ (first- favorable)
Enzyme: Citrate synthase
L-maleate + NAD+ —> OAA + NADH + H+ (last- unfavorable)
Enzyme: Malate dehydrogenase
How does step 1 proceed in the forward direction?
Combo of OAA being used as substrate in the reaction (product of last reaction) AND thioester bond in acetyl CoA being hydrolyzed
Step 2
Isomerization
Citrate Isocitrate
Importance:
Citrate is a poor substrate for oxidation
Isocitrate has a secondary -OH, which can be oxidized
Allows for oxidative decarboxylation in next step
Step 3
Oxidative Decarboxylation of Isocitrate
Isocitrate —> Oxalosuccinate —> alpha-ketoglutarate
RATE LIMITING STEP
Enzyme: Isocitrate dehydrogenase
Rate limiting step of TCA cycle
Why?
Step 3- Oxidative decarboxylation of Isocitrate
Why?
Because this is the first step in the cycle that produces NADH which a has to be regenerated to NAD+ to continue cycle
TCA cycle is dependent on the rate of ________ —> __________ is dependent on the rate of _______________
TCA cycle is dependent on the rate of the electron transport chain —> electron transport chain is dependent on the rate of ATP utilization
Use more ATP —> _______ electron transport chain
Faster