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Chemistry

Enzyme-Catalyzed Decarboxylation and Its Inhibitors

Quick fact

Some decarboxylases are so efficient that they release CO₂ at rates that seem to defy the stability of the carboxylate group—thanks to cofactors like TPP that stabilize the carbanion intermediate, making the reaction millions of times faster than without the enzyme.

Why this is interesting

You know enzymes speed up reactions, but how do they rip a carbon dioxide molecule right off a chain? And why would we want to stop that from happening?