dekarboxüleerimist

Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group from a molecule by releasing it as carbon dioxide (CO2). This process is common in organic chemistry and biochemistry. In organic chemistry, decarboxylation often involves heating a carboxylic acid, which can lead to the loss of CO2 and the formation of a new compound. For example, malonic acid readily decarboxylates upon heating to produce acetic acid and carbon dioxide.

In biological systems, decarboxylation is a crucial step in many metabolic pathways. Enzymes called decarboxylases catalyze these reactions. A prominent example is the decarboxylation of pyruvate in the citric acid cycle, which produces acetyl-CoA, a key molecule for energy production. Another significant biological decarboxylation occurs in the synthesis of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine from their amino acid precursors, tryptophan and tyrosine, respectively. The amino group is often lost as CO2 in these processes, leading to the formation of amine neurotransmitters. Decarboxylation reactions can also be involved in the fermentation of food and beverages, such as the production of ethanol from glucose by yeast, where pyruvate is decarboxylated to acetaldehyde. The reverse reaction, carboxylation, which adds a carboxyl group, also exists and is vital in certain metabolic pathways.