Description
Pyruvate carboxylase synthesizes oxaloacetate from pyruvate and CO2 as an anaplerotic reaction in the mitochondrial matrix of the liver and kidney of higher animals, representing an alternative to the malic enzyme pathway to oxaloacetate (which is more important in heart an skeletal muscle) or the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase reaction (compare glyoxylate cycle in plants and microorganisms). Carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate requires Mg-ATP. Acetyl CoA is a strong positive modulator. PC can form pyruvate from oxaloacetate to remove an excess of oxaloacetate which inhibits succinate dehydrogenase.
Abbreviation: PC
Reference: Lehninger 1970 Worth Publishers, Gnaiger 2020 MitoPathways
MitoPedia topics: Enzyme