Ethanol Metabolism and Acetate to Acetyl CoA Conversion

These flashcards cover key concepts, terms, and definitions related to the metabolism of ethanol, focusing on the conversion of acetate to acetyl CoA.

Acetate

A toxic metabolite that is produced from the breakdown of acetaldehyde.

Acetyl CoA Synthetase

An enzyme that converts acetate into acetyl CoA and is involved in removing toxic acetate.

Adenylate

A term referring to the addition of AMP (adenosine monophosphate) to a molecule, typically in the context of biochemical reactions.

Delta G

A measure of the free energy change in a reaction; a negative delta G indicates that energy is released and work can be done.

TCA Cycle

The citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle, a key metabolic pathway that uses acetyl CoA as a substrate to produce energy.

Inorganic Pyrophosphatase

An enzyme that hydrolyzes pyrophosphate into two inorganic phosphates, driving reactions forward by releasing energy.

Pentavalent Intermediate

An unstable reaction intermediate that has five bonds around the central atom, often seen in phosphate reactions.

Nucleophile

A chemical species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond in a reaction.

Tetrahedral Intermediate

An intermediate molecular structure with a central atom bonded to four substituents, common in acyl substitutions.

Citrate Synthase

An enzyme that catalyzes the first step of the TCA cycle by combining acetyl CoA with oxaloacetate to form citrate.