Certain microorganisms with a modified citric acid cycle decarboxylate a -ketoglutarate to produce succinate semi-aldehyde:

(a) Succinate semialdehyde is then converted to succinate, which is further metabolized by standard citric acid cycle enzymes. What kind of reaction is required to convert succinate semialdehyde to succinate? Show any coenzymes that might be involved.
(b) Based on your answer in part a, how does this pathway compare to the standard citric acid cycle in energy yield?

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g00 CH CH CoO CH CH CO CoO a-Ketoglutarate Succinate semialdehyde