Isocitric acid is a

structural isomer In chemistry, a structural isomer (or constitutional isomer in the IUPAC nomenclature) of a compound is another compound whose molecule has the same number of atoms of each element, but with logically distinct bonds between them. The term meta ...

citric acid Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC(CO2H)(CH2CO2H)2. It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry, it is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, which occurs in t ...

. Since citric acid and isocitric acid are structural isomers, they share similar physical and chemical properties. Due to these similar properties, it is difficult to separate the isomers. Salts and

ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides are f ...

s of isocitric acid are known as isocitrates. The isocitrate anion is a substrate of the

citric acid cycle The citric acid cycle (CAC)—also known as the Krebs cycle or the TCA cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle)—is a series of chemical reactions to release stored energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and protei ...

. Isocitrate is formed from

citrate Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC(CO2H)(CH2CO2H)2. It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry, it is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, which occurs in t ...

with the help of the

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. ...

aconitase Aconitase (aconitate hydratase; ) is an enzyme that catalyses the stereo-specific isomerization of citrate to isocitrate via ''cis''- aconitate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, a non-redox-active process. Image:Citrate wpmp.png, Image:Ci ...

, and is acted upon by

isocitrate dehydrogenase Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) () and () is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate, producing alpha-ketoglutarate (α-ketoglutarate) and CO2. This is a two-step process, which involves oxidation of isocitrate (a ...

. Isocitric acid is commonly used as a marker to detect the authenticity and quality of fruit products, most often citrus juices. In authentic orange juice, for example, the ratio of citric acid to D-isocitric acid is usually less than 130. An isocitric acid value higher than this may be indicative of fruit juice adulteration. Isocitric acid has largely been used as a biochemical agent due to limited amounts. However, isocitric acid has been shown to have pharmaceutical and therapeutic effects. Isocitric acid has been shown to effectively treat iron deficient anemia. Additionally, isocitric acid could be used to treat

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms beco ...

. ''

Yarrowia lipolytica ''Yarrowia'' is a fungal genus in the family Dipodascaceae. For a while the genus was monotypic, containing the single species ''Yarrowia lipolytica'', a yeast that can use unusual carbon sources, such as hydrocarbons. This has made it of interes ...

'' can be used to produce isocitric acid and is inexpensive compared to other methods. Furthermore, other methods produce unequal amounts of citric acid to isocitric acid ratio, mostly producing citric acid. Use of ''Yarrowia lipolytica'' produces a better yield, making equal amounts of citric acid to isocitric acid.

Interactive pathway map

References

Alpha hydroxy acids Tricarboxylic acids Citric acid cycle compounds Aldols {{biochemistry-stub

Interactive pathway map

See also

References