- coenzyme A
- A coenzyme containing pantothenic acid, adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-pyrophosphate, and cysteamine; involved in the transfer of acyl groups, notably in transacetylations.
* * *
coenzyme A n a coenzyme C21H36N7O16P3S that occurs in all living cells and is essential to the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and some amino acids* * *
a nucleotide containing pantothenic acid, which is an important coenzyme in the Krebs cycle and in the metabolism of fatty acids.* * *
(CoA) (CoA-SH) a coenzyme in which phosphorylated pantothenic acid is covalently linked to β-mercaptoethylamine and adenosine 3′,5′-bisphosphate. The terminal thiol group of the β-mercaptoethanolamine is enzymatically acylated to form high-energy thiol ester compounds such as the acetyl, acetoacetyl, and long chain fatty acid (acyl) compounds. These thiol esters play a central role in various metabolic reactions, such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the transfer of acetyl groups, and the oxidation of fatty acids. See also acetoacetyl coenzyme A, acetyl coenzyme A, acyl coenzyme A, and succinyl coenzyme A.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
