The alpha- ketoglutarate is the 5-carbon intermediate of the citric acid cycle which converted to a 4-carbon molecule with the release of carbon dioxide
The first decarboxylation reaction in Krebs cycle ( known as citric acid cycle ) is catalyzed by isocitrate dehydrogenase in which one six carbon atoms compound isocitrate is decarboxylated to yield five carbon atom containing alpha ketoglutaric acid.
The alpha- ketoglutarate is the 5-carbon intermediate of the citric acid cycle which is salt of alpha ketoglutaric acid. The last reaction in the citric acid cycle produces a product that is a substrate for the first reaction of the citric acid cycle.
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