glyoxylate catabolic process

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of glyoxylate, the anion of glyoxylic acid, HOC-COOH. [ISBN:0198506732]

The glyoxylate cycle, also known as the glyoxylate shunt, is a metabolic pathway that occurs in plants, bacteria, fungi, and some protists. It is a modification of the citric acid cycle (TCA cycle) that allows these organisms to grow on two-carbon compounds like acetate.

The glyoxylate cycle bypasses the decarboxylation steps of the TCA cycle, allowing for the net synthesis of four-carbon compounds from two-carbon compounds. This is crucial for organisms that cannot synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide (e.g., plants in the dark or some bacteria), as it enables them to use acetate as a carbon source for growth.

The glyoxylate cycle consists of four key reactions:

1. **Isocitrate lyase**: This enzyme cleaves isocitrate into glyoxylate and succinate.
2. **Malate synthase**: This enzyme combines glyoxylate with acetyl-CoA to form malate.
3. **Malate dehydrogenase**: This enzyme oxidizes malate to oxaloacetate.
4. **Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)**: This enzyme decarboxylates oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate.

The glyoxylate cycle is tightly regulated by a variety of factors, including the availability of substrates, the energy status of the cell, and the growth conditions.

**Overall, the glyoxylate cycle plays a vital role in the metabolism of organisms by enabling them to utilize acetate as a carbon source for growth and biosynthesis.**'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (2)