Krebs cycle step 3

From Proteopedia

Step three of the Krebs Cycle: Isocitrate dehydrogenase

Figure: Formation of α-ketoglutarate

Like the second step of the Krebs cycle, the third reaction (see Figure) is a two-step reaction sequence. In the first step, the secondary OH group of isocitrate (highlighted in yellow) is oxidised by the coenzyme NAD⁺, and a ketone is formed. At this point it becomes apparent why citrate was previously isomerised to isocitrate: Without this step, the oxidation would not have taken place, since tertiary alcohols can not be oxidised. In the second step of the reaction, the intermediate product is decarboxylated and thus CO₂ (in green) and α-ketoglutarate, the salt of α-ketoglutaric acid, are released. With this step, the carbon chain is shortened for the first time because α-ketoglutarate has a C5 body.