The Citrate Cycle

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts of the Citrate Cycle as discussed in the lecture.

Citrate Cycle

Considered the hub of cellular metabolism; links oxidation of various metabolites to ATP synthesis.

Acetyl-CoA

Molecule that is oxidized in the citrate cycle, generated from pyruvate.

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase

Complex that converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA; major regulatory point in carbohydrate metabolism.

NAD+

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; serves as a coenzyme in redox reactions.

FAD

Flavin adenine dinucleotide; another coenzyme involved in redox reactions.

GTP

Guanosine triphosphate; generated in the citrate cycle during substrate-level phosphorylation.

Oxidative Decarboxylation

Process in which carbon dioxide is removed from a molecule while oxidizing it.

Aconitase

Enzyme that catalyzes the isomerization of citrate to isocitrate.

Feedback Inhibition

Regulatory mechanism whereby an enzyme's activity is inhibited by the product of its own pathway.

Anaplerotic Reactions

Reactions that replenish intermediates of the citrate cycle that have been shunted to other metabolic pathways.

Coenzyme A (CoA)

An acyl carrier molecule derived from vitamin B5, used to generate acetyl-CoA.

Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP)

Coenzyme derived from vitamin B1 that is crucial in the catalytic activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase.

α-lipoic Acid

A coenzyme that provides a reactive disulfide for redox reactions, involved in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

Isocitrate Dehydrogenase

Enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate, producing NADH.

Regulation of the Citrate Cycle

The control of enzyme activities, mainly by citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.