Ruminants animals that chew cuds such as cattle and sheep pr

Ruminants (animals that chew cuds, such as cattle and sheep) produce large amounts of propionic acid in their rumen through bacterial fermentation. Actually, propionate is the main source of glucose in these animals! Draw a feasible anabolic pathway for the biosynthesis of glucose from propionic acid in a ruminant. Show structures, names of enzymes and co-factors. If C-2 In propionic acid was labeled with 14C, in which position(s) in glucose would you expect to find the label?

Solution

The metabolism of propionic acid starts with its conversion to the propionyl co enzyme A , this is considered as the furst stage of the metabolism of carboxylic acid

As we know that the propionic acid is a three cardon compound it is first converted to the D- Methylmalonyl-CoA which is then converted to L form this is then converted to the succinyl co enzyme A by a vitamin b 12 dependant enzyme which then enters the citric acid cycle