Question

Which reactions in the citric acid cycle form a product with a new asymmetric center?

Short answer

Products with asymmetric center

1. Citrate to isocitrate

2. Fumarate to malate

Step-by-step solution

Citric acid cycle

It is also known as tricarboxylic acid which takes place in the matrix of mitochondria. It is a series of eight chemical reactions in which stored energy is released through the oxidation of acetyl Co-A. It is the main souse of energy for cells for aerobic respiration.

Synthesis of new asymmetric center

Two times asymmetric center is generated in the TCA cycle:

1.When citrate is converted to isocitrate by the aconitase enzyme

Citrate us achiral has no stereocenter but isocitrate is chiral and has two stereocenters and four stereoisomers are possible

2.When fumarate is converted to malate by fumarase enzyme: