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Succinic Acid

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Synonyms

Butanedioic acid

Definition

Succinic acid (HOOCCH2CH2COOH) is a dicarboxylic acid which plays an important role in the citric acid cycle. The name comes from Latin succinum, meaning amber, from which the acid was first isolated. The carboxylate anion is called succinate. Succinic acid has a melting point of 185 °C and a boiling point of 235 °C.

In the citric acid cycle, succinic acid donates electrons to FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) and ultimately to the electron transport chain by the reaction

$$ {\mathrm Succinate}+{\mathrm FAD}\to {\mathrm Fumarate}+{{\mathrm FADH}}_2. $$

This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase.

Succinic acid has been produced in various prebiotic experiments and has been found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan

    Henderson James Cleaves II

  2. Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Washington, DC, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves II

  3. Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves II

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  1. Henderson James Cleaves II
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux, Pessac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    William M. Irvine

  3. Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Univ. Autónoma de Madrid Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  4. Analytical-, Environm., Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium

    Philippe Claeys

  5. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, WASHINGTON, DC, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  6. Radio Astronomy, Paris Observatory, Paris, France

    Maryvonne Gerin

  7. Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Meudon, France

    Daniel Rouan

  8. International Space Science Institute, Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Tilman Spohn

  9. Centre Francois Viète, Universite de Nantes, Nantes, France

    Stéphane Tirard

  10. Innovaxiom, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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Cleaves, H.J. (2022). Succinic Acid. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1532-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1532-4

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Succinic Acid
    Published:
    08 February 2023

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1532-4

  2. Original

    Succinic Acid
    Published:
    22 April 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1532-3

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