acetyl-CoA
Citric cycle fuel
Acetyl-CoA (acetyl coenzyme A) is a molecule central to metabolism, serving as the main fuel for the citric acid cycle that generates cellular energy.
It forms when nutrients—carbohydrates, fats, and proteins—are broken down, funneling their energy into a common pathway.
Beyond energy production, acetyl-CoA provides building blocks for synthesizing fatty acids and cholesterol.
Aerobic respiration's central pathway
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- energy productionCreating usable power supply
- pyruvateThree-carbon acid from glycolysis
cellular respiration · carbon dioxide · matrix · aerobic respiration · catabolism · substrate · bioenergetics
Metabolic creation of lipids
- lipogenesisMetabolic fat production process
- cholesterolWaxy lipid in blood
- steroid hormonesLipid messengers from cholesterol
- ketone bodiesFatty acid breakdown products
mevalonate pathway · cytosol · anabolism · prostaglandins · vitamin D · building block · precursor · elongation
Purine nucleobase in DNA
- ribosePentose in nucleotides
- phosphatePO₄ ion compound
- cofactorEnzyme-activating compound
- chemical structureArrangement of bonded atoms
citric acid cycle
Aerobic respiration's central pathway
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- energy productionCreating usable power supply
pyruvate · cellular respiration · carbon dioxide · matrix · aerobic respiration · catabolism · substrate · bioenergetics
fatty acid synthesis
Metabolic creation of lipids
- lipogenesisMetabolic fat production process
- cholesterolWaxy lipid in blood
- steroid hormonesLipid messengers from cholesterol
ketone bodies · mevalonate pathway · cytosol · anabolism · prostaglandins · vitamin D · building block · precursor · elongation
adenine
Purine nucleobase in DNA
chemical structure · nucleotide · vitamin B5 · molecular formula
insulin
Pancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- Biochemicalsamino acid, amino acids, protein, proteins, DNA
- metabolismcatabolism, anabolism, metabolism, glycolysis, metabolic rate
- biochemistryenzymes, proteins, biochemistry, protein, enzyme
- metabolitespyruvate, lactate, glucose, citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate
- Acetyl Compoundsacetylation, acetylcholine, diacetyl
- Acetylation
acetyl-CoACO2
Carbon dioxide formula
fatty acids · cholesterol · glucose · citrate · ATP
acetyl-CoAcarbon dioxide
Respiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
CO2 · citrate · alpha-ketoglutarate · malate · NADH