Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA)

Definition

The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, commonly known as the citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle, is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetate derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into carbon dioxide. In addition to ATP production, it provides precursors for many compounds including some amino acids and is crucial for cellular respiration in the mitochondria.

Related terms

Glycolysis: The biochemical pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and serving as an initial step before the TCA cycle in cellular respiration.

Oxidative Phosphorylation: A metabolic pathway that uses energy released by the oxidation of nutrients to produce ATP, closely linked with the electron transport chain following the TCA cycle.

Acetyl: CoA - A molecule that conveys the carbon atoms within acetyl groups into the TCA cycle to be oxidized for energy production; it is a central metabolite in metabolism