Best way to memorize structures of TCA Cycle

Answer 1

Hi, the best way to memorize structures of the TCA cycle is noticing how the structure is changing after each enzyme, and where CO2 is getting lost. We know that if we lose a CO2 we are losing one carbon from the structure. Another good way is to know the types of enzyme used, hinting what the structure will then look like. For example, as we move from citrate to isocitrate with aconitase, we notice that the OH group simply moved from Carbon 3 to Carbon 4. The enzyme here is acting to transfer a group intramolecularly, which is classified as an isomerase.