In: Biology
One of the consequences of energy production in organisms like animals and plants is carbon dioxide production. At what steps does carbon dioxide production occur?
The steps which evolve CO2 are called oxidative decarboxylation reactions. There are three steps in in glucose oxidation which CO2 is formed and liberated. They are described below:
a. In glycolysis from glucose two molecules of pyruvate (3C) are formed. These pyruvate undergoes oxidative decarboxylation reactions and forms acetyl Co-A. and CO2. The Pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme catalyses this reaction.
b. The acetyl Co-A (2C) enters TCA cycle and combine with Oxaloacetic acid (4C) to form 6-C Citric acid. In third reaction of TCA cycle Isocitrate is oxidised to alpha-ketoglutarate (5C) and one more molecule of CO2 is released and in this reaction one NADH +H+ molecule is also formed.
c. Isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction catalyzes this step. The alpha-ketoglutarate is again oxidised to form a succinyl CoA (4C ) and again another molecule of CO2 is liberated. This reaction also generates one NADH +H+ molecule. Enzyme alpha ketoglutarate dehydrogenase catalyzes this reaction.