Reductive acetyl CoA Pathway

The reductive acetyl CoA Pathway is a method of fixing organic carbon from carbon dioxide used by some bacteria and archaea. It is also know as the Wood Ljungdahl Pathway.

The principle reactions take the form of converting CO2 via intermediates to acetyl Coenzyme A. Intermediates include carbon monoxide and CH3CO-.

There are two parallel reactions initially:
 * CO2 + H2 &rarr; Formic Acid &rarr; X-CH3
 * CO2 + H2 &rarr; H2O + CO

Then these come together with CoEnzyme-A to form acetyl coenzyme A. The steps are catalysed by enzymes at each step.

It is found in various archaean methanogens and in acetate producing bacteria such as Clostridium.

Unlike the Reverse Krebs cycle and the Calvin cycle, this process is not cyclic.