[wp_quiz id=”14182″]
Decarboxylation is the process in which a carboxyl group (C(=O)OH) is removed and is associated with the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from a chemical reaction.
Decarboxylation reactions are important reactions in the Kreb’s cycle or the citric acid cycle. The following three steps of Kreb’s cycle include a decarboxylation reaction are:
- Pyruvate to acetyl-CoA: Removal of a carboxylic group from pyruvate (C3) to form acetyl-CoA (C2)
- Oxalosuccinate to α-ketoglutarate: Removal of a carboxylic group from Oxalosuccinate (C6) to form α-ketoglutarate (C5)
- α-ketoglutarate to succinyl-CoA: Removal of a carboxylic group from α-ketoglutarate (C5) to form succinyl-CoA (C4)