Which enzyme facilitates the conversion of malate back to oxaloacetate?

The enzyme that facilitates the conversion of malate back to oxaloacetate is malate dehydrogenase. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the citric acid cycle by catalyzing the reversible oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate, utilizing NAD+ as a cofactor, which is then reduced to NADH in the process. This reaction is important because it regenerates oxaloacetate, allowing the cycle to continue and facilitating the subsequent condensation with acetyl-CoA to form citrate. The activity of malate dehydrogenase is vital for maintaining the flow of metabolites within the cycle and impacts overall cellular respiration efficiency.