In both gluconeogenesis and the TCA cycle, there is a point in each that GTP is produced instead of the usual ATP. My question is why GTP and not ATP for these 2 specific steps?
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$\begingroup$ I've added to your title to put the focus on GTP. It's a good question. I must say I've wondered about it myself and never seen or come up with answer, although I haven't put much effort into doing so. $\endgroup$– DavidNov 3, 2016 at 13:38
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1$\begingroup$ Welcome to Biology.SE. This is a good question, maybe you are interested in this question about why ATP is the preferred energy carrier. $\endgroup$– AlexDeLargeNov 3, 2016 at 13:59
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Nice question. Beginning with Krebs cycle, there is actually no specific answer as both GTP and ATP are produced. First, see this article for why GTP is the more frequent product:
It may be that at the beginning, both GTP and ATP were equally available for energy and that the succinyl CoA synthetase reaction happened to choose GTP and that reaction is still with us today, billions of years later, even though we run the TCA cycle clockwise (forward) instead of backwards.
So, actually both ATP and GTP can be produced. And indeed both are produced, depending upon the organism. See this article:
A step with significant variability is the conversion of succinyl-CoA to succinate. Most organisms utilize EC 6.2.1.5, succinate–CoA ligase (ADP-forming) (despite its name, the enzyme operates in the pathway in the direction of ATP formation). In mammals a GTP-forming enzyme, succinate–CoA ligase (GDP-forming) (EC 6.2.1.4) also operates. The level of utilization of each isoform is tissue dependent. In some acetate-producing bacteria, such as Acetobacter aceti, an entirely different enzyme catalyzes this conversion – EC 2.8.3.18, succinyl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase. This specialized enzyme links the TCA cycle with acetate metabolism in these organisms. Some bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori, employ yet another enzyme for this conversion – succinyl-CoA:acetoacetate CoA-transferase (EC 2.8.3.5).
So, there is no strict rule that only GTP will be produced instead of ATP at that step. And, afterall, it does not matter much as both of them carry equal energy.
Now coming to Gluconeogenesis, GTP is hydrolyzed by the enzyme Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase or PEPCK. This enzyme can also work with both ATP and GTP, depending on the sepcific type of enzyme. See this article (links added separately):
It is classified under EC number 4.1.1. There are three main types, distinguished by the source of the energy to drive the reaction:
Thus, there is no strict protocol for using specific energy carrier in the process, both ATP and GTP can be used in the reaction. Its just because GTP is more frequently used that it is mentioned instead of GTP/ATP in the reaction.
answered Jan 22, 2017 at 9:04
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$\begingroup$ I would say it is not known if the GTP/ATP distinction is important -- maybe it really doesn't matter, since the two can be interconverted -- but maybe it does.The kinetics is probably different since the GTP concentration is typically an order of magnitude smaller than ATP. Maybe there is some compartmentalization effect that we don't understand, as with NAD/NADP. It's curious that major anabolic processes use GTP (protein synthesis, gluconeogenesis), while other energy-demanding processes (pumps, motor proteins) use ATP ... $\endgroup$– RolandMar 1, 2017 at 15:39
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$\begingroup$ @roland this is a valid point, there is still a lot more that remains unknown. But on searching, I found that this distinction (GTP/ATP) is limited to just the different types of enzyme: different types of same enzyme use different molecules. So maybe it is that during evolution, enzymes either learnt that GTP is also useful or they tried to rely as much on ATP as possible. But I'll add more details when I find them :) $\endgroup$ Mar 2, 2017 at 4:20