Aerobic Respiration:

Krebs Cycle
Lesson 9.3

Group 9 Unit 9: Cellular Respiration

Learning Objectives

• Explain the mechanism of pyruvate oxidation and the Krebs cycle

• Determine the products of oxidation of molecules in the Krebs Cycle

• Compute for the products of the Krebs cycle.

 Overview
The Krebs Cycle was named after German-British
scientist Hans Krebs in the 1930s.

The cycle is also known as the citric acid cycle or

tricarboxylic cycle because citric acid is its first product
that composed of 3 carboxyl groups.
 Krebs Cycle

Krebs Cycle is the process of oxidizing and further

breaking down two pyruvate molecules to produce
energy.

In the transition reaction before the Krebs Cycle,

acetly-CoA is formed from pyruvate through
oxidation. CO and NADH 2 carried by electron are
produced in this stage.
Transition Reaction

The transition reaction between glycolysis and Krebs cycle converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA through oxidation. This process releases a carboxyl
group, along a reaction with a reaction with coenzyme A.
Transition Reaction

Pyruvate, a three-carbon molecule, must first undergo oxidation to

become another molecule before entering Krebs cycle.

After glycolysis, pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondrion, given

that the condition is aerobic.
Upon entering, pyruvate is converted into acetly-CoA.
Transition Reaction

The process of transition reaction starts with

decarboxylation , when the carboxyl group (C00) in
pyruvate is removed and release as carbon dioxide
(C0).

This also results in the formation of a

two-carbon molecule.
Transition Reaction

The two-carbon molecules undergoes oxidation and

becomes acetate.

The electrons released from the oxidation of two-

carbon molecules are transferred to NAD, which
becomes NADH. The acetate nolecule reacts with
a
sulfur-containing compound called coenzyme A.
Mechanism of the Krebs Cycle
MECHANISM OF KREBS CYCLE

Kerbs cycle starts when the acetly-CoA reacts with

oxaloacetate resulting with the formation of citrate.

Citrate undergoes isomerization which is the

rearrangement of citrate's atom that becomes
isocitrate

Then, isocitrate undergoes oxidation which results in

a
the formation of -ketoglutarate.
MECHANISM OF KREBS CYCLE

The next step involves the oxidation of

a-ketoglutarate, which is catalyzed by
a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.

Carbon dioxide and NADH are released during this

process, which leaves a four-carbon molecules
behind, that reacts with
coenzyme A which foms the succinyl-CoA.
MECHANISM OF KREBS CYCLE

Afterwards, the succinyl-CoA is replaced by a

phosphate group and immediately transfered to GDP
(guanosine diphosphate) to form GTP (guanosine
triphosphate)

This process result in the formation of succinate.

MECHANISM OF KREBS CYCLE

Succinate undergoes oxidation to form fumarate.

The addition of a water molecule to fumerate forms

malate. Then, malate oxidation forms oxaloacetate
which causes the reduction of NAD to NADH.
Products of the Krebs Cycle

Every glucose yields two pyruvate molecules. Thus, the Krebs cycle happens
twice for each round of glycolysis.

In this case, all products of the Krebs cycle discussed are doubled to account
for every glucose molecule that undergoes glycolysis.
SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCTS OF THE TRANSITION
REACTION AND THE KREBS CYCLE
REACTANTS AND PRODUCTS IN THE TRANSITION REACTION AND
THE KREBS CYCLE FOR EVERY GLUCOSE MOLECULE
KEY POINTS
● Krebs cycle is the process of oxidizing and further breaking down two pyruvate
molecules to produce energy.

● In the transition reaction before the Krebs cycle, acetyl-CoA is formed from
pyruvate through oxidation. CO2 and NADH are also produced in this stage.

● The series of redox reactions during the Krebs cycle produces NADH, FADH2, CO2,
and GTP. The CO2 is released into the environment. NADH and FADH2 are used to
produce more ATP in the electron transport chain. GTP is used to drive chemical
reactions similar to how cells use ATP
Thank you for listening...

Any questions? don't hesitate to ask to the reporters.