Why would nature add CO2 only to remove it in the conversion of PYR to PEP in gluconeogenesis?
Medic570 asked:
In the conversion of pyruvate to phosphoenolpyruvate in gluconeogenesis, the addition of CO2 is followed by a decarboxylation. Why would nature add CO2 only to remove it in the next step? Is this the same carbon added the same as the one removed?
May 12th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Usually when something is added then removed, it is because the transition state is able to undergo reactions that the normal state cannot. When the CO2 is attached it may change the energy of the molecule and allow a second reaction to happen but then it is no longer needed.