Mechanism of The Inhibition of Aconitase
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Citric acid -
Aconitic acid -
Isocitric acid
Aconitase normally catalyses, via Aconitic acid, the interconversion of citric acid into isocitric acid (see figure above). Propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid is very suited to bind to aconitase as it only lacks the hydroxide group compourd to citric acid. On the other hand, as the hydroxide group is essential to proceed from citric acid to aconitic acid, the enzyme is not able to complete the reaction. The enzyme is stuck with a molecule it cannot get rid of.
Read more about this topic: Propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic Acid
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