citric acid cycle
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A metabolic pathway: The citric acid cycle is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into carbon dioxide and chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
- A central part of cellular respiration: It is a crucial metabolic cycle that occurs in the mitochondria of cells, where it completes the breakdown of nutrients and provides precursors for various biosynthetic pathways.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The citric acid cycle is also known as the Krebs cycle or the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.
- Understanding the steps of the citric acid cycle is fundamental to biochemistry.
- Energy production in the cell depends heavily on the efficient operation of the citric acid cycle.
Advanced Usage
"to enter the citric acid cycle": Refers to the point where acetyl-CoA molecules begin the series of reactions.
- Pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA before it can enter the citric acid cycle.
"intermediates of the citric acid cycle": Refers to the molecules produced at each step of the cycle, which can be used for other cellular processes.
- Some intermediates of the citric acid cycle are used in the synthesis of amino acids.
Variants and Related Words
Krebs cycle (n): A common synonym for the citric acid cycle, named after Hans Krebs.
- The Krebs cycle is a key component of aerobic respiration.
Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (n): Another formal synonym for the citric acid cycle.
- The TCA cycle occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.
Synonyms
- Krebs cycle: The most widely used synonym.
- Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle): A more chemical term for the same process.
Related Phrases
Citrate synthase: The enzyme that catalyzes the first reaction of the cycle.
- Citrate synthase combines acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate to form citrate.
Oxidative phosphorylation: The process that follows the citric acid cycle to produce most of the cell's ATP.
- The NADH and FADH2 produced in the citric acid cycle drive oxidative phosphorylation.
Noun
- in all plants and animals: a series of enzymatic reactions in mitochondria involving oxidative metabolism of acetyl compounds to produce high-energy phosphate compounds that are the source of cellular energy