Question

What are the sources of Acetyl-CoA?

Answer 1

Acetyl-CoA:

It is the abbreviated form of acetyl coenzyme A which is a molecule that acts as a precursor for many biochemical reactions in organisms.

Sources of Acetyl-CoA:

1. During glycolysis (breakdown of glucose), the final product pyruvate undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to produce acetyl-CoA.
2. It is the main intermediate during lipid metabolism.
3. Acetyl-CoA undergoes oxidation and gets converted to CO₂ in the Citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) for the production of energy.
4. During fatty acid synthesis, acetyl-CoA is used to activate fatty acid molecules so that they can be transported from the cytosol into the mitochondria.
5. In the mitochondria, fatty acids are converted to acetyl-CoA by beta-oxidation.
6. In the cytosol, acetyl-CoA in turn helps in the synthesis of these fatty acids.
7. During amino acid catabolism, some of the deaminated amino acids enter the Krebs cycle in the form of acetyl-CoA.