Krebs Cycle - Citric Acid Cycle - Cellular Respiration

Explore the intricacies of cellular respiration in this comprehensive lecture on the Krebs Cycle, also known as the Citric Acid Cycle or Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) Cycle. Delve into the series of chemical reactions that aerobic organisms use to release stored energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA. Learn how this crucial metabolic pathway provides precursors for amino acids and produces the reducing agent NADH. Discover the cycle's central importance in biochemical pathways and its potential origins in early metabolism. Examine the step-by-step process, including the consumption and regeneration of citric acid, the reduction of NAD+ to NADH, and the release of carbon dioxide. Understand how the NADH generated feeds into the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, ultimately producing usable chemical energy in the form of ATP. Explore the cycle's occurrence in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and learn about its overall yield of energy-containing compounds.