A method for the identification of the immediate product of decarboxylation reactions

Abstract

A method is proposed to distinguish between carbon dioxide and HCO3- ion as end products of decarboxylation reactions. The method is dependent upon the removal of carbon dioxide by flowing air at various rates through reactants and then quantitatively collecting and measuring the liberated carbon dioxide. Theoretical and experimental evidence are presented, demonstrating that the distinction is dependent on the velocity constant of the dehydration of carbonic acid. Experiments with yeast pyruvic carboxylase and the constant addition of sodium hydrogen carbonate, both with and without carbonic anhydrase, confirmed the validity of the assumptions. Yeast pyruvic decarboxylase produces carbon dioxide as its dominant, if not sole, end-product.