Question

3. Which steps in the urea cycle and glycolysis use acyl-phosphate intermediates? Compare and contrast the use of acyl-phosphates

Answer 1

3. In Urea cycle, the acyl phosphate intermediate is carbamoyl phosphatase present inside the mitochondria which are formed by reaction of ammonia, bicarbonate, and ATP where CPS1 is catalyzing the reaction. This carbamoyl phosphate reacts with ornithine thereby forming citrulline which is transported in the cytoplasm for further processing it into urea.
In glycolysis, the acyl phosphates intermediates are glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, DHAP and glyceraldehyde 3 phosphates. The series of enzymes helps in breaking down six carbon compound into three carbon compound pyruvate. In glycolysis, we can observe the number of intermediate acyl phosphate steps are more as compared to urea cycle.