citraterelated

Citraterelated is a broad term used to describe topics, processes, and substances that involve citrate or citrate-derived chemistry. Citrate is the conjugate base of citric acid and exists in biological fluids as a tricarboxylate anion; it participates in numerous metabolic, physiological, and industrial contexts.

In biochemistry, citrate is a central intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (Krebs cycle). It is formed by citrate synthase from acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate in the mitochondrial matrix, then converted through aconitase to isocitrate. Citrate can be transported out of the mitochondrion into the cytosol, where it provides acetyl-CoA for fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis when energy is abundant. Citrate also acts as an allosteric regulator of glycolysis by inhibiting phosphofructokinase-1, linking carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

In medicine and laboratory science, sodium citrate and citrate salts are widely used as anticoagulants for blood collection and transfusion; they chelate calcium to prevent clotting. Citrate buffers are used in biochemical assays and chromatography, and citrate-based media stabilize biological samples.

Industrial and nutritional uses include citrate salts as food additives (E334), flavor enhancers, and sequestrants that bind metal ions in processed foods and beverages, detergents, and cleaning products. Citrate is also derived from fermentation in industrial biotechnology.

Research on citrate-related topics covers metabolic regulation, cancer metabolism and tumor biosynthesis, citrate transporters such as the SLC13 family, and metabolic engineering to optimize lipid production. The term citraterelated thus encompasses biochemistry, physiology, medicine, and industry as they relate to citrate.