Decarboxylation Oxidative

Oxidative decarboxylation is a process in which a carboxyl group (COOH) is removed from an amino acid or keto acid molecule. This process is an important step in the aerobic oxidation process that occurs in the mitochondria of cells.

Decarboxylation is a coupled reaction that occurs simultaneously with the oxidation of a substrate (such as glucose). This reaction produces carbon dioxide and an amino group (NH2), which can be used to synthesize new protein molecules or for other biochemical reactions.

Aerobic oxidation of carbohydrates occurs in the mitochondria of the cell. In this case, glucose is split into two molecules of pyruvate, which are then oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. During the process of oxidative decarboxylation, carboxyl groups are removed from pyruvate and amino groups are formed, which can be used for protein synthesis.

This process plays an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and is a key step in the synthesis of proteins and other important compounds in the body.