Enzymes that catalyze the removal of carbon from the carbon chain
Decarboxylase
The enzymes that catalyze the removal of carbon from the carbon chain are called decarboxylases. Decarboxylation is the process by which a carboxyl group (-COOH) is removed from a molecule, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide (CO2). Decarboxylases are a subclass of lyases, which are enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of chemical bonds without the addition of water.
Decarboxylases play an important role in various metabolic pathways. For example, in the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle), decarboxylation reactions catalyzed by specific decarboxylases result in the release of CO2 and the conversion of organic acids to their corresponding ketones.
Another example of a decarboxylation reaction occurs during the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. In this case, decarboxylases catalyze the conversion of the amino acid precursor (L-DOPA or 5-hydroxytryptophan) to the corresponding biogenic amine (dopamine or serotonin) by removing the carboxyl group.
Overall, decarboxylases play an important role in the metabolism of both plants and animals, and their activity contributes to the regulation of many physiological processes.
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