Question

Which electron carrier(s) function in the citric acid cycle?

A) NAD+ and FAD
B) ATP and ADP
C) RNA and DNA
D) Glucose and Glycogen

Answer 1

The electron carriers that function in the citric acid cycle are NAD+ and FAD. In the cycle, citrate is oxidized, releasing carbon dioxide and reducing NAD+ and FAD to NADH and FADH2, respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron carriers that function in the citric acid cycle are NAD+ and FAD.

In the citric acid cycle, the acetyl group from acetyl CoA is attached to a four-carbon oxaloacetate molecule to form a six-carbon citrate molecule. Through a series of steps, citrate is oxidized, releasing two carbon dioxide molecules for each acetyl group fed into the cycle. In the process, three NAD+ molecules are reduced to NADH and one FAD molecule is reduced to FADH2. These reduced electron carriers store energy that can be used to produce ATP in subsequent steps.