Carboxylase

Carboxylases: key enzymes in metabolism

Carboxylases are a group of enzymes that play an important role in metabolism in the body. Carboxylases catalyze carboxylation reactions, that is, the transformation of a substance molecule by adding a carboxylic acid functional group (-COOH) to it.

Carboxylases are widely distributed in living organisms and play an important role in various biochemical processes. They are involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, amino acids, carbohydrates and other important molecules. In addition, carboxylases play a key role in the respiration process by converting pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, which is then used in the Krebs cycle to produce energy.

Depending on the type of reactions catalyzed, carboxylases can be classified as biotin-dependent or non-biotin-dependent. Biotin-dependent carboxylases contain a cofactor biotin, which plays an important role in the conversion of the substance molecule. Non-biotin-dependent carboxylases, on the other hand, use other cofactors such as thiamic acid or heme.

Carboxylases can also be classified according to their site of action. For example, pyruvate carboxylase catalyzes the carboxylation reaction of pyruvate in mitochondria, while ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase plays an important role in photosynthesis in plants.

In general, carboxylases are key enzymes in metabolism and play an important role in providing the body with energy and the necessary molecules for life. The study of these enzymes helps to better understand the mechanisms of biochemical processes in the body and may have potential practical applications in medicine, agriculture and other fields of science.



Carboxylases (from the Latin carbo - coal, carbonum - coal and oxalicum - oxalic acid) are enzymes that participate in the carboxylation reaction and catalyze it. Carboxylation is a process in which a carboxylic acid molecule (such as oxalic acid) adds to a carbon atom of another molecule to form a new carboxylic acid molecule.

Carboxylases play an important role in the body's metabolism. They are involved in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates and help regulate blood glucose levels. For example, liver carboxylase is involved in the synthesis of glycogen, a carbohydrate reserve in the liver, which is used to maintain blood glucose levels, as well as in the formation of lactic acid, a breakdown product of glucose.

There are several types of carboxylases, each of which catalyzes its own carboxylation reaction. For example, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase catalyzes the dehydrogenation of alpha-keto acids, and lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes the dehydrogenation of lactic acid.

Carboxylases are important enzymes in the body's metabolic processes, so their research can help in the development of new drugs and treatments for metabolic diseases.