Citric Acid Cycle Research Paper

The citric acid cycle generates energy from the oxidation of various fuel molecules to acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA). Acetyl CoA undergoes several redox, hydration and decarboxylation reactions to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and hydrogen ions. The citric acid cycle links glycolysis which produces pyruvate from glucose and oxidative phosphorylation which generates ATP which is used as energy for metabolic processes. The citric acid cycle is catabolic and anabolic. Fuel molecules are catabolised (broken down) to generate ATP. Anabolism is where molecules such as amino acids, fatty acids, porphyrins and many others can be synthesised from cycle intermediates. Cycle intermediates are …show more content…
The citric acid cycle produces energy by the oxidation of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA) to carbon dioxide (CO2) and ATP 3, 5, 7. Acetyl CoA can be synthesised from carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids.1, 5, 7. Pyruvate produced in glycolysis undergoes oxidation and decarboxylation by the multi enzyme complex pyruvate dehydrogenase to produce acetyl CoA. 7, 8, 10. The citric acid cycle also provides carbon skeletons for the biosynthesis of amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, cholesterol, haeme and other molecules that are vital for survival. 1, 5, 6, …show more content…
3. Acetyl CoA is a 2 carbon molecule which is produced from carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids and is also produced by the oxidation and decarboxylation of pyruvate catalysed by pyruvate dehydrogenase in glycolysis. 1, 5, 7,