Krebs Cycle - animated

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What is the citric acid, tricarboxylic acid (TCA), or Krebs cycle?
The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, also known as the Krebs or citric acid cycle, is the main source of energy for cells and an important part of aerobic respiration. The cycle harnesses the available chemical energy of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA) into the reducing power of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH).

The TCA cycle is part of the larger glucose metabolism whereby glucose is oxidized to form pyruvate, which is then oxidized and enters the TCA cycle as acetyl-CoA.

Half of the intermediates on which the cycle depends are also the origin of pathways leading to important compounds such as fatty acids, amino acids, or porphyrins. If any of these intermediates are thus diverted, the integrity of the cycle is broken and the cycle no longer functions. Production of essential energy can only be resumed if the diverted intermediate or a subsequent intermediate that leads to oxaloacetate can be replenished by anaplerotic (refilling) reactions.