karboksülaase

Karboksülaase is a general term for enzymes that catalyze the addition of a carboxyl group (COOH) to a molecule. These enzymes are crucial in various metabolic pathways across all domains of life. The reaction they facilitate is typically a carboxylation, often utilizing carbon dioxide as the carboxyl donor. A common example is the carboxylation of a substrate to form a beta-keto acid or a related compound. These enzymes often require cofactors such as biotin or metal ions. The specific substrate and the resulting product vary greatly depending on the particular karboksülaase enzyme. In plants, karboksülaases play a vital role in photosynthesis, with RuBisCO (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) being a prime example, responsible for fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic molecules. In other organisms, karboksülaases are involved in processes like fatty acid synthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, and the citric acid cycle. The study of karboksülaases is important for understanding fundamental biological processes and has implications in areas like biotechnology and medicine.