Final answer:
The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, also known as the Krebs or Citric Acid Cycle, was discovered by Sir Hans Krebs in 1937. His discovery elucidated the central metabolic pathway that oxidizes acetate into carbon dioxide and generates energy-carrying molecules, which earned him the Nobel Prize in 1953.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discovery of the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle
The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (TCA Cycle), also known as the Krebs Cycle or the Citric Acid Cycle, was discovered by the biochemist Sir Hans Krebs. Krebs first identified the steps in this crucial metabolic pathway in the 1930s while studying pigeon flight muscles. His seminal work led to the proposal of this cycle in 1937, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1953.
The TCA 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 the presence of oxygen, acetyl CoA combines with oxaloacetate to produce citrate, which undergoes a sequence of transformations, ultimately regenerating oxaloacetate. This series of reactions not only produces carbon dioxide and water but also generates high-energy molecules such as ATP, NADH, and FADH2, vital for cellular metabolism.
It is noteworthy that the TCA Cycle occurs in the mitochondrial matrix of eukaryotic cells and is a pivotal process in catabolism—whereby foodstuffs are broken down to extract usable energy in the form of ATP.