Citric acid cycle

Definition

The citric acid cycle, also known as the TCA cycle (TCA = tricarboxylic citric acid) or the Krebs cycle, is a series of chemical reactions that occur inside the cell that is part of the process of respiration to generate energy (both aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration). In eukaryotic cells, this cycle occurs inside the mitochondrion, whereas in prokaryotic cells, this cycle occurs directly within the cytoplasm.

Summary

Item	Value
Type of organisms in which the citric acid cycle occurs	All organisms that carry out cellular respiration, whether aerobic or anaerobic; in particular this includes all eukaryotes and many prokaryotes.
Type of cells within the organism that undergo the citric acid cycle	Prokaryotes are unicellular, so if the organism supports the citric acid cycle, its only cell will. In eukaryotes, all cells that contain mitochondria support the citric acid cycle.
Places in the cell where the citric acid cycle occurs	In eukaryotic cells, this cycle (as well as the immediate preceding step to it, namely pyruvate decarboxylation) occurs inside the mitochondrion, whereas in prokaryotic cells, this cycle occurs directly within the cytoplasm.
Substrate (input or reactant) for the process	Acetyl-CoA, that in turn is obtained from pyruvic acid via pyruvate decarboxylation; the pyruvic acid in turn is generated as an output of glycolysis in the cytosol. There are also various other intermediates that mainly change in terms of oxidation states, protons, or phosphates.
Products of the process	Coenzyme A, carbon dioxide, and updated versions of the intermediates.