citratbuffertar

Citratbuffertar refer to a type of biochemical buffer system found in living organisms, particularly in animals and plants. The citrate buffer system is a complex network of enzymes and transport proteins that help maintain the intra- and extracellular pH balance in response to changes in hydrogen ion concentration.

The citrate buffer system works through a series of reactions involving citrate, a.k.a. citric acid, which plays a central role in the system. When the pH level of the extracellular fluid drops, citrate can be discharged into the medium, releasing protons (H+) and increasing the pH. Conversely, when the pH level increases, the system can absorb H+ and decrease the pH, thereby maintaining homeostasis.

In animals, the citrate buffer system is often linked with the pyruvate-malonate shuttle, a transport mechanism that relies on malate dehydrogenase to transfer reducing equivalents between the mitochondria and cytoplasm. This shuttle is crucial for maintaining redox balance and energy metabolism during periods of high energy demand.

Plants, on the other hand, utilize the citrate buffer system as a means of regulating photosynthesis and stomatal aperture. By adjusting the pH level in the apoplast and symplast, plants can optimize CO2 uptake and guard-cell activity, ultimately affecting growth and productivity.

Researchers studying the citrate buffer system have identified potential applications in pathology, endocrinology, and drug development. Conditions such as citraturia and citrate-mediated acidosis may benefit from a deeper understanding of the citrate buffer system and its regulation.