Reductive acetyl CoA Pathway

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The reductive acetyl CoA Pathway is a method of fixing organic carbon from carbon dioxide used by some bacteria and archaea. It is also know as the Wood Ljungdahl Pathway.

The principle reactions take the form of converting CO₂ via intermediates to acetyl Coenzyme A. Intermediates include carbon monoxide and CH₃CO-.

There are two parallel reactions initially:

CO₂ + H₂ → Formic Acid → X-CH₃

CO₂ + H₂ → H₂O + CO

Then these come together with CoEnzyme-A to form acetyl coenzyme A. The steps are catalysed by enzymes at each step^[1].

It is found in various archaean methanogens and in acetate producing bacteria such as Clostridium.

Unlike the Reverse Krebs cycle and the Calvin cycle, this process is not cyclic.

[edit] See also

• Carbon fixation

[edit] References

1. ^ Ragsdale SW. (1991). "Enzymology of the acetyl-CoA pathway of CO₂ fixation". Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol. 26 (3-4): 261–300. doi:10.3109/10409239109114070. PMID 1935170.