Oxaloacetic acid

Oxaloacetic acid (also known as OAA) is a four-carbon molecule found in all living organisms. It is a key intermediate in various metabolic pathways, including the citric acid cycle, gluconeogenesis, and the alanine cycle.

Structure and properties

Oxaloacetic acid is a carboxylic acid with the chemical formula C4H4O5. It has a molecular weight of 132.07 g/mol. The molecule consists of a ketone group and two carboxylic acid groups. The pKa values of the carboxylic acid groups are 2.22 and 3.13, respectively.

Role in metabolism

Oxaloacetic acid plays a crucial role in several metabolic pathways. In the citric acid cycle, it combines with acetyl-CoA to form citric acid, which is then metabolized to produce energy. In gluconeogenesis, oxaloacetic acid is a key intermediate in the conversion of non-carbohydrate substrates into glucose. In the alanine cycle, it is converted into aspartic acid.

Synthesis

In biological systems, oxaloacetic acid is synthesized from pyruvic acid by the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase. It can also be synthesized from phosphoenolpyruvic acid by the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.

See also

• Citric acid cycle
• Gluconeogenesis
• Alanine cycle

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