Edit Target: 239
Oxaloacetate is a four-carbon dicarboxylic acid that plays a crucial role in the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), which is essential for cellular respiration and energy production.
oxaloacetate may have tumor-suppressive properties.
In the citric acid cycle, oxaloacetate is formed from the condensation of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate itself, and it plays a crucial role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It is involved in energy production and the synthesis of various biomolecules.
Oxaloacetate can also be produced through other metabolic pathways, such as gluconeogenesis and the transamination of aspartate
Oxaloacetate can be derived from several sources and metabolic pathways in the body. Here are the primary sources of oxaloacetate:
Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle):
Oxaloacetate is a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle, where it is formed from the condensation of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate itself. It is also regenerated at the end of the cycle after the conversion of succinate to fumarate and then to malate.
Gluconeogenesis:
During gluconeogenesis, which is the process of synthesizing glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, oxaloacetate is produced from pyruvate through the action of the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase. This pathway is particularly important during fasting or intense exercise.
• Oxaloacetate is a central metabolite in energy metabolism with links to multiple pathways altered in cancer cells (e.g., the TCA cycle, glycolysis, anaplerosis, redox balance, and nucleotide synthesis).