• Question: Please could you explain, in detail, the Krebs cycle?

    Asked by Xx_SaLLY_ScOpE_xX to Ceri, Marikka, Matt, Rob, Sally on 18 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Ceri Dare

      Ceri Dare answered on 18 Nov 2014:

      What do you want to know about the Krebs cycle?

      Short answer – the Krebs cycle happens in mitochondria, which are the energy-producing bits in cells (plant, animal and some other cells – but not bacteria). This is how your cells turn molecules from the food you eat into energy.

      For an animation on the krebs cycle and how it works, see here: http://www.wiley.com/college/boyer/0470003790/animations/tca/tca.htm

    • Photo: Robert Hampson

      Robert Hampson answered on 19 Nov 2014:

      The Krebs cycle is also known as the citric acid cycle because one of the important intermediates is citric acid.

      Basically it is a way that cells use to convert Pyruvate and Acetate groups (attached to Coenzyme A) from the breakdown of glucose into hydrogen ions (attached to hydrogen carriers like NAD and FAD) which can then be used in the mitochondria to manufacture ATP (which is like the currency the cell uses for energy). It is a key part of the process called respiration.

      There is a nice picture here:

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