Answer to Question #107259 in Chemistry for Dung Ton

Question

what enzyme catalyzes the transition reaction?

Answer 1

Coenzyme A (CoA, SHCoA, CoASH) is a coenzyme, notable for its role in the synthesis and oxidation of fatty acids, and the oxidation of pyruvate in the citric acid cycle.

The transition reaction connects glycolysis to the citric acid (Krebs) cycle. Through a process called oxidative decarboxylation, the transition reaction converts the two molecules of the 3-carbon pyruvate from glycolysis (and other pathways) into two molecules of the 2-carbon molecule acetyl Coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and 2 molecules of carbon dioxide. First, a carboxyl group of each pyruvate is removed as carbon dioxide and then the remaining acetyl group combines with coenzyme A (CoA) to form acetyl-CoA.