KETOGLUTARIC ACIDS Meaning and
Definition
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Ketoglutaric acids, also referred to as 2-oxoglutaric acids, are organic compounds that belong to the family of alpha-keto acids. Alpha-keto acids are molecules that contain both a carboxyl group (-COOH) and a ketone group (>C=O) adjacent to each other. Ketoglutaric acids specifically have a ketone group placed at the second carbon atom of the molecule.
Chemically, ketoglutaric acids have a molecular formula of C5H6O5, consisting of five carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and five oxygen atoms. Structurally, they possess a backbone of four carbon atoms bonded in a chain with the carboxyl group attached to the first carbon and the ketone group to the second carbon. The remaining carbon atoms are connected with single bonds and have hydrogen atoms attached to them.
Ketoglutaric acids are key intermediates in several metabolic pathways, including the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle) and the metabolism of amino acids. They participate in the transfer of carbon atoms during the breakdown and synthesis of molecules within the cell. In particular, ketoglutaric acids are involved in the oxidation of isocitrate to release carbon dioxide and generate energy-rich molecules, such as NADH and ATP, in the citric acid cycle.
Furthermore, ketoglutaric acids play a significant role in amino acid metabolism by participating in reactions that enable the conversion of amino acids into other essential molecules. They serve as acceptors of amino groups during transamination reactions, facilitating the synthesis of non-essential amino acids.
Overall, ketoglutaric acids play crucial roles in energy production and the metabolism of amino acids, making them essential compounds for various cellular processes.
Common Misspellings for KETOGLUTARIC ACIDS
- jetoglutaric acids
- metoglutaric acids
- letoglutaric acids
- oetoglutaric acids
- ietoglutaric acids
- kwtoglutaric acids
- kstoglutaric acids
- kdtoglutaric acids
- krtoglutaric acids
- k4toglutaric acids
- k3toglutaric acids
- keroglutaric acids
- kefoglutaric acids
- kegoglutaric acids
- keyoglutaric acids
- ke6oglutaric acids
- ke5oglutaric acids
- ketiglutaric acids
- ketkglutaric acids
- ketlglutaric acids
Etymology of KETOGLUTARIC ACIDS
The word "ketoglutaric acids" is derived from their chemical structure and function.
- "Keto-" comes from "ketone", which refers to a functional group consisting of a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O).
- "Glutaric" is derived from "glutaric acid", which is a dicarboxylic acid composed of five carbon atoms.
- "Acids" refers to the compound's acidic nature due to the presence of carboxyl groups (–COOH).
Overall, "ketoglutaric acids" describes a group of organic acids that contain a keto group on their carbon chain and have similarities with glutaric acid.
