oksaloetikkahapon

Okasaloetikkahappo, also known as oxaloacetic acid, is a four-carbon dicarboxylic acid that plays a crucial role in cellular metabolism. It is a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle, which is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

In the citric acid cycle, oxaloacetic acid condenses with acetyl-CoA to form citrate. Through a series of enzymatic steps, citrate is then oxidized, regenerating oxaloacetic acid. This cyclical process generates ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell, as well as reducing equivalents like NADH and FADH2, which are used in the electron transport chain to produce more ATP.

Beyond its role in energy production, oxaloacetic acid is also involved in gluconeogenesis, the metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate carbon substrates. It can be formed from pyruvate, a product of glycolysis, or from other amino acids. Furthermore, oxaloacetic acid is a precursor for the synthesis of certain amino acids, such as aspartate and asparagine. Its availability and turnover are tightly regulated by cellular energy status and the demand for biosynthetic pathways. The molecule's significance extends to various biological processes, highlighting its central position in metabolic networks.