We hypothesize that oxaloacetate will decrease the activity of succinate dehydrogenase and render it inactive, by preventing the enzyme from initiating redox reactions of succinate to fumarate and FAD to FADH2, which will prohibit any donated electrons from moving onto the electron transport chain to produce ATP. The enzyme, succinate dehydrogenase, also called succinate-coenzyme Q reductase (SQR) or respiratory Complex II, is found in the inner mitochondrial membrane of the mitochondria. Succinate dehydrogenase is divided into four subunits called subunit A, subunit B, subunit C, and subunit D. Succinate dehydrogenase is essential in the process of cellular respiration. The enzyme also plays a large role in the citric acid cycle, known as the Krebs Cycle and the electron transport chain. In the sixth step of the citric acid cycle, the redox reaction of succinate to fumarate is catalyzed by succinate dehydrogenase. When succinate is oxidized, an electron is lost, resulting in fumarate. Succinate dehydrogenase transfers the remaining …show more content…
It is an intermediate of the Kreb's cycle and is found prior to the formation of pyruvate by pyruvate carboxylase and immediately after the NAD+-consuming conversion from L-malate by malate dehydrogenase. Oxaloacetate is first condensed with Acetyl CoA to form citrate in the first reaction of the Krebs Cycle. The Krebs Cycle is a series of reactions that form electron carriers to be used in the electron transport chain to produce ATP, the main energy source for all cellular functions. The citric acid produced during this cycle is a tricarboxylic acid, containing three carboxyl groups. After the citrate has been formed, it goes through another series of reactions, producing isocitrate a-ketoglutarate, succinyl coenzyme A, succinate, fumarate, malate, and oxaloacetate. The oxaloacetate will react with another Acetyl CoA and the cycle will continue ("Krebs