Biotin cofactor: pyruvate carboxylase (PC)
- Carboxylates pyruvate to oxaloacetate — the first step of gluconeogenesis
- Biotin serves as PC's carboxyl-carrier arm
- Also refills the TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle (anaplerosis)
Drugs with this mechanism (1)
- Biocytin — Biotin bound to lysine; biotinidase recycles it into free biotin during protein breakdown.
Self-check
- What does biotin-dependent pyruvate carboxylation produce?
Oxaloacetate. - Besides gluconeogenesis, what does this reaction replenish?
The TCA cycle.
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