The Krebs cycle is a series of chemical reactions that produce carbon dioxide and ATP, the major source of energy in all living organisms. It was discovered by Hans Adolph Krebs in 1937 and is the second stage of aerobic respiration. The cycle affects all types of life and converts carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into carbon dioxide and useful energy.
The Krebs cycle refers to a complex series of chemical reactions that produce carbon dioxide and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy-rich compound. The cycle essentially occurs by linking two carbon coenzymes with carbon compounds; the created compound then goes through a series of changes that produce energy. This cycle occurs in all cells that use oxygen as part of their respiration process; this includes those cells of higher animal kingdom creatures such as humans. Carbon dioxide is important for various reasons, the main one being that it stimulates respiration, while ATP supplies cells with the energy necessary for the synthesis of proteins from amino acids and the replication of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); both are vital to energy supply and the continuation of life. In short, the Krebs cycle constitutes the discovery of the major source of energy in all living organisms.
Discovery
The Krebs cycle, also known as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), was first recognized in 1937 by the man for whom it takes its name, the German biochemist Hans Adolph Krebs. His very detailed and extensive research in the field of cellular metabolism and other scientific endeavors earned him the 1953 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Krebs’ contributions to the fields of science and medicine are substantial; in addition to the citric acid cycle, in 1932 Krebs also identified the urea cycle.
functions
Within the Krebs cycle, energy in the form of ATP is usually derived from the breakdown of glucose, although fats and proteins can also be used as sources of energy. Because glucose can pass through cell membranes, it carries energy from one part of the body to another. The Krebs cycle affects all types of life and is, as such, the metabolic pathway within cells. This pathway chemically converts carbohydrates, fats and proteins into carbon dioxide and converts water into useful energy.
The Krebs cycle is the second stage of aerobic respiration, the first being glycolysis and the last being the electron transport chain; the cycle is a series of phases that every living cell must undergo in order to produce energy. The enzymes that determine the occurrence of each phase of the process are all located in the “energy house” of the cell; in animals, this powerhouse is the mitochondria; in plants they are the chloroplasts; and in microorganisms, it can be found in the cell membrane. The Krebs cycle is also known as the citric acid cycle, because citric acid is the very first product generated by this sequence of chemical conversions, and is also regenerated at the end of the cycle.
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