Reactions of Part 1 of the Citric Acid Cycle
a. What is the function of reaction 1 in the citric acid cycle?
b. Why does citrate undergo isomerization in reaction 2?
a. Reaction 1 in the citric acid cycle combines an acetyl group (2C) with oxaloacetate (4C) to produce citrate (6C).
b. In reaction 2, citrate, a tertiary alcohol, isomerizes to isocitrate, a secondary alcohol that can be oxidized.