Final answer:
The Krebs Cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle, is a series of chemical reactions that occur in the mitochondria of cells. It involves the conversion of acetyl-CoA into citrate, releasing carbon dioxide and transferring electrons to NAD+, which forms NADH. This process produces ATP and serves as an important step in the generation of energy during aerobic respiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Krebs Cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle, is a series of chemical reactions that occur in the mitochondria of cells. The inputs of the cycle include 2 acetyl-CoA molecules, 6 NAD+ molecules, and 2 FAD molecules. The outputs of the cycle include 4 carbon dioxide molecules, 2 ATP molecules (or GTP), 6 NADH molecules, and 2 FADH2 molecules.
During the Krebs cycle, the acetyl-CoA combines with a four-carbon molecule called oxaloacetate to form a six-carbon molecule called citrate. Through a series of reactions, the citrate molecule is oxidized, releasing carbon dioxide and transferring electrons to NAD+, which forms NADH. This process produces ATP (or GTP) through substrate-level phosphorylation. The NADH and FADH2 produced during the Krebs cycle will later be used in the electron transport chain to produce more ATP. The Krebs cycle is an essential part of aerobic respiration and plays a key role in the generation of ATP.