Final answer:
Vitamin K is not referred to as 'Kitase'; it is an essential nutrient that serves as a coenzyme for processes like blood clotting. Deficiency in vitamin K can result in severe bleeding and clotting issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kitase is not the active coenzyme of vitamin K; rather, vitamin K itself acts as a coenzyme in the body. The biochemical role of vitamin K includes being necessary for the proper formation of prothrombin, which is the inactive precursor of thrombin. Thrombin is an enzyme that plays a key role in blood clotting, converting fibrinogen into fibrin and ultimately aiding in the formation of blood clots.
Vitamin K fulfills several critical roles:
It increases the activity of many clotting factors.
Initiates the biosynthesis of the enzyme proconvertin in liver cells.
Participates in the electron transport chain.
Acts as a coenzyme for carboxylation of glutamate to γ-carboxyglutamate.
Deficiency in vitamin K can result in increased clotting time and decreased blood prothrombin levels, leading to continuous bleeding, especially during childbirth. It is important to include adequate vitamin K in the diet to maintain proper clotting function and overall health.