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Malate dehydrogenase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, a central part of cellular respiration in most living organisms. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate, a reaction that regenerates the starting molecule for the TCA cycle. This process is essential for the efficient breakdown of fuel molecules like glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids to generate energy in the form of ATP. The TCA cycle occurs within the mitochondria of cells, except in bacteria.21

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