1. Krebs cycle or citric acid cycle is the second phase of aerobic respiration which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria.
2. The acetyl CoA formed during the link reaction undergoes aerobic oxidation.
3. This cycle serves a common oxidative pathway for carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
4. In mitochondria pyruvic acid is decarboxylated and the remaining 2-carbon fragment is combined with a molecule of coenzyme A to form acetyl-CoA.
5. This reaction is an oxidative decarboxylation process and produces H ions and electrons along with carbon dioxide. During the process NAD+ is reduced to NADH+H+ .
6. P-oxidation of fatty acids also produces acetyl-CoA as the end product.
7. Acetyl-CoA from both sources is condensed with oxaloacetic acid to form citric acid. Citric acid is oxidized step-wise by mitochondrial enzymes, releasing carbon dioxide.
8. Regeneration of oxaloacetic acid occurs to complete the cycle.
9. There are four steps of oxidation in this cycle, catalyzed by dehydrogenases (oxidoreductases) using NAD+ or FAD+ as the coenzyme.
10. The coenzymes are consequently reduced to NADH+H+ and FADH2 respectively. These transfer their electrons to the mitochondrial respiratory chain to get reoxidised.
11. One molecule of GTP (ATP) is also generated for every molecule of citric acid oxidized.
