BASEBiological Archive
for Science & Education
Search
HomeMetabolismAcetyl-CoA
MoleculeMETABOLITE RECORD

Acetyl-CoA

A two-carbon acetyl donor that connects carbohydrate, lipid, amino-acid, and energy metabolism.

2-carbon moleculePyruvate oxidationHomo sapiens
REFERENCE IDENTIFIERCHEBI:15351ChEBI record
BUILD UP YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Learn about Acetyl-CoA

Acetyl-CoA carries a small two-carbon piece that connects sugar, fat, and amino-acid breakdown to other pathways.

Start here for the main idea. Choose Learn for reactions and connections.

Record type: molecule. A two-carbon acetyl donor that connects carbohydrate, lipid, amino-acid, and energy metabolism.
QUICK FACTS

At a glance

Carbon backbone 2 CThis carbon count is shown where it is defined for the molecule.

FOLLOW THE BIOLOGY

Connected records

14 links
Produced inPyruvate oxidationUsed inCitric acid cycleProduced inFatty acid β-oxidationUsed and produced inFatty acid synthesisUsed inCholesterol biosynthesisProduced inBranched-chain amino acid catabolismHandled byPyruvate dehydrogenase complexHandled byCitrate synthase
Show 6 more connections
Handled byAcetyl-CoA acyltransferase 2Handled byATP-citrate lyaseHandled byAcetyl-CoA carboxylaseHandled byFatty acid synthaseHandled byHMG-CoA synthase (cytosolic)Handled by3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase
STRUCTURED REACTIONS

Where it appears

Open metabolism map
1

Pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction

The multienzyme complex oxidizes pyruvate, releases CO2, and forms acetyl-CoA and NADH.

Pyruvate oxidation · irreversible
1

Citrate formation

Citrate synthase condenses acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate.

Citric acid cycle · irreversible
5

Thiolytic cleavage

Thiolase releases one acetyl-CoA and a fatty acyl-CoA shortened by two carbons.

Fatty acid β-oxidation · irreversible
1

Cytosolic acetyl-CoA supply

ATP-citrate lyase provides cytosolic acetyl-CoA from exported citrate.

Fatty acid synthesis · irreversible
2

Malonyl-CoA formation

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase uses ATP and biotin to make malonyl-CoA.

Fatty acid synthesis · irreversible
3

Acetyl primer loading

The acetyl primer is loaded onto the acyl carrier protein of fatty acid synthase.

Fatty acid synthesis · irreversible
Show 4 more reaction records
1

Acetoacetyl-CoA formation

Thiolase condenses two acetyl-CoA molecules to form acetoacetyl-CoA.

Cholesterol biosynthesis · irreversible
2

HMG-CoA formation

Cytosolic HMG-CoA synthase adds a third acetyl unit to acetoacetyl-CoA.

Cholesterol biosynthesis · irreversible