Krebs Cycle

Definition

The Krebs Cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle, is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats and proteins into ATP.

Related terms

Acetyl CoA:

This molecule is what starts the Krebs Cycle. It's like flour in our pastry recipe - without it, we can't start baking.

NADH and FADH2: These are molecules produced by the Krebs Cycle that go on to donate electrons in oxidative phosphorylation. They're like sugar and butter in our pastry recipe - they add flavor (energy) to our final product.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): This is one of the waste products of the Krebs Cycle. Just like heat is released when we bake pastries, CO2 is released when we make ATP.