Definition for Acetyl-CoA
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The thioester formed from the condensation of acetate with coenzyme A . The acetyl group is activated for transfer (ΔG°′ = −7.5 kcal/mole for hydrolysis). Acetyl-CoA is an important metabolic nexus and can be thought of as an activated form of acetate (acetic acid). It is formed from the end product of glycolysis under aerobic conditions, pyruvate, by the action of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex, and from the breakdown (catabolism) of fatty acids and certain amino acids. Most of the catabolic production of acetyl CoA feeds directly into the citric acid cycle, which in effect oxidizes acetyl CoA to two molecules of CO2.
