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The enzyme citrate synthase [E.C. 2.3.3.1 (previously 4.1.3.7)] exists in nearly all living cells and stands as a pace-making enzyme in the first step of the citric acid cycle (or Krebs cycle).[3] Citrate synthase is localized within eukaryotic cells in the mitochondrial matrix, but is encoded by nuclear DNA rather than mitochondrial. It is synthesized using cytoplasmic ribosomes, then transported into the mitochondrial matrix. Citrate synthase is commonly used as a quantitative enzyme marker for the presence of intact mitochondria. Citrate synthase catalyzes the condensation reaction of the two-carbon acetate residue from acetyl coenzyme A and a molecule of four-carbon oxaloacetate to form the six-carbon citrate: [3] • acetyl-CoA + oxaloacetate + H2O → citrate + CoA-SH • acetyl-CoA • Oxaloacetic acid • Citric acid Oxaloacetate is regenerated after the completion of one round of the Krebs cycle. Oxaloacetate is the first substrate to bind to the enzyme. This induces the enzyme to change its conformation, and creates a binding site for the acetyl-CoA. Only when this citroyl-CoA has formed will another conformational change cause thioester hydrolysis and release coenzyme A. This ensures that the energy released from the thioester bond cleavage will drive the condensation. 1 Structure The Active Site of Citrate Synthase (open form) The Active Site of Citrate Synthase (closed form) Citrate synthase’s 437 amino acid residues are organized into two main subunits, each consisting of 20 alphahelices. These alpha helices compose approximately 75% of citrate synthase’s tertiary structure, while the remaining residues mainly compose irregular extensions of the structure, save a single beta-sheet of 13 residues. Between these two subunits, a single cleft exists containing the active site. Two binding sites can be found therein: one reserved for citrate or oxaloacetate and the other for Coenzyme A. The active site contains three key residues: His274, His320, and Asp375 that are highly selective in their interactions with substrates.[4] The images to the left display the tertiary structure of citrate synthase in its opened and closed form. The enzyme changes from opened to closed with the addition of one of its substrates (such as oxaloacetate).[5] 2 Function 2.1 Mechanism Citrate synthase has three key amino acids in its active site (known as the catalytic triad) which catalyze the conversion of acetyl-CoA [H3CC(=O)−SCoA] and oxaloacetate [ −O2CCH2C(=O)CO2 − ] into citrate [ −O2CCH2C(OH)(CO2 − )CH2CO2 − ] and H−SCoA in an aldol condensation reaction. This conversion be- 1 2 4 EXTERNAL L