The citric acid cycle, shown in —also known as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) or the Krebs 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.
The NADH and QH2 that is generated by the citric acid cycle is used by the oxidative phosphorylation pathway to generate energy-rich adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The product of this reaction, acetyl-CoA, is the starting point for the citric acid cycle.
