Acetoacetyl-CoA
Acetoacetyl-CoA is an important intermediate in the metabolic pathways of living organisms. It is formed from two molecules of acetyl-CoA by the action of the enzyme thiolase. Acetoacetyl-CoA can then be converted into hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) by the enzyme HMG-CoA synthase, a key step in the mevalonate pathway for the synthesis of sterols and other isoprenoids.
Structure and Properties[edit | edit source]
Acetoacetyl-CoA is a thioester that consists of a two-carbon acetyl group linked to a four-carbon acetoacetyl group via a coenzyme A molecule. The molecule has a molecular weight of approximately 853.2 g/mol. The acetoacetyl group is a ketone, which gives the molecule its characteristic reactivity.
Biosynthesis[edit | edit source]
The biosynthesis of acetoacetyl-CoA begins with the condensation of two molecules of acetyl-CoA, a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme thiolase. This results in the formation of acetoacetyl-CoA and a molecule of coenzyme A (CoA). The reaction is reversible, and in some organisms, the reverse reaction is used to generate acetyl-CoA from acetoacetyl-CoA.
Role in Metabolism[edit | edit source]
Acetoacetyl-CoA plays a central role in several metabolic pathways. In the mevalonate pathway, it is converted into HMG-CoA by the enzyme HMG-CoA synthase. This is a key step in the synthesis of sterols and other isoprenoids, which are vital components of cellular membranes and precursors of many other biologically important molecules.
In the ketogenesis pathway, acetoacetyl-CoA is converted into acetoacetate, a ketone body that can be used as an energy source by the brain and other tissues during periods of fasting or intense exercise.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in the metabolism of acetoacetyl-CoA can lead to a variety of health problems. For example, defects in the enzyme HMG-CoA synthase can result in HMG-CoA synthase deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that can cause episodes of hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and coma.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Translate: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD