1. Plural of oxaloacetate; salts or esters of oxaloacetic acid, or the ionized form of oxaloacetic acid found in cells; an important intermediate compound in the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) involved in cellular respiration and energy production.
Usage: biochemistry; technical; plural form

Examples

• Oxaloacetates play a crucial role in the citric acid cycle by combining with acetyl-CoA to form citrate.
• The enzyme malate dehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of malate to oxaloacetate in mitochondria.
• Oxaloacetates are regenerated in each turn of the Krebs cycle to maintain the continuous production of energy.
• In gluconeogenesis, oxaloacetates serve as a starting material for the synthesis of glucose.
• The concentration of oxaloacetates in cells is tightly regulated to balance energy metabolism and biosynthetic pathways.