How does the Kreb Cycle work?

Answer 1

the ATP is tranferred to pyruvate. so basically the hydrogen ions are taken out.

Answer 2

The function of the Kreb's cycle is to remove electrons and hydrogen ions from the pyruvate residues that remain from glycolysis. The electrons and hydrogen ions join with electron acceptors, namely NAD+ and FAD. These carry the electron to the electron transport system where they are used to make ATP. The Kreb's cycle produces a small amount of ATP by substrate level phosphorylation. Also, much of the carbon dioxide we exhale is produced by this set of reactions.


Here are a couple of sites which detail the process.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid_cycle

http://www.mrs.umn.edu/~goochv/CellBio/lectures/kreb/kreb.html

http://wine1.sb.fsu.edu/krebs/krebs.htm

Answer 3

Just as important as the energetic function of the TCA cycle (as described above), is the fact that it serves as a convergance point/reservoir for many pathways of biomolecules. The intermediates of the cycle serve to replenish amino acids that are in short supply, precursors for gluconeogenesis (through oxaloacetate) and precursors for fatty acid synthesis (through citrate).