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BOTANY Higher Secondary Second Year - Textbooks Online

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decarboxylation and dehydrogenation. This reaction is catalyzed by pyruvic<br />

dehydrogenase and two molecules of NAD + are reduced to NADH 2 .<br />

During this reaction two molecules of CO 2 are released. Oxidative<br />

decarboxylation of pyruvic acid occurs only under aerobic condition. Under<br />

anaerobic conditions, the pyruvic acid is reduced either to lactic acid or<br />

ethyl alcohol depending on the nature of the organism.<br />

5.3.3 Krebs cycle<br />

In 1937, Sir Hans Adolf Krebs described the catalytic role of pyruvic<br />

acid for the production of energy in the cell. The series of cyclic reactions<br />

involved in converting pyruvic acid to carbondioxide and water in<br />

mitochondria is called Krebs cycle. It is also known as citric acid cycle or<br />

tricarboxylic acid cycle – TCA cycle.<br />

1. In the first reaction of citric acid cycle, one molecule of acetyl<br />

Co~A combines with oxaloacetic acid to form citric acid. This reaction is<br />

catalyzed by citric acid synthetase. Citric acid contains three carboxylic<br />

acid groups.<br />

2. Citric acid is dehydrated to form cis-aconitic acid in the presence<br />

of aconitase<br />

3. The same enzyme aconitase catalyzes the formation of isocitric<br />

acid from cis-aconitic acid by the addition of a molecule of water. Citric<br />

acid, cis-aconitic acid and isocitric acid contain three carboxylic acid groups.<br />

4. The isocitric acid is oxidatively decarboxylated to α- ketoglutaric<br />

acid. This reaction is catalyzed by isocitric dehydrogenase. During this<br />

reaction, one NADH is formed.<br />

2<br />

5. The α- ketoglutaric acid is oxidatively decarboxylated to form<br />

succinyl Co~A. This reaction is catalyzed by α-ketoglutaric<br />

dehydrogenase. The energy released during this reaction is conserved in<br />

NADH . 2<br />

6. The succinyl Co~A is hydrolysed to succinic acid in the presence<br />

of succinyl Co-A synthetase. In this reaction, ADP is phosphorylated to<br />

ATP. This is called substrate level phosphorylation.<br />

7. The succinic acid is oxidized to form fumaric acid by succinic<br />

dehydrogenase. Here, FAD + is reduced to FADH 2 .<br />

8. The fumaric acid is converted to malic acid by the addition of a<br />

molecule of water. This reaction is catalyzed by fumarase.<br />

205

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