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Q.Explain the reactions of Krebs cycle.

Telangana TsbieTelangana Board of Intermediate Education 2024Subjective· 8mImportance★★★★★
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The Krebs cycle is a series of enzyme-catalysed reactions in the mitochondrial matrix that completely oxidises the acetyl group of acetyl-CoA to CO2, capturing energy as NADH, FADH2 and ATP (GTP), and regenerating oxaloacetate for the next turn.

Location: Mitochondrial matrix.

Step-by-step reactions:

  1. Formation of citrate: Acetyl-CoA (2C, from pyruvate oxidation) combines with oxaloacetate (OAA, 4C) in the presence of the enzyme citrate synthase to form citrate (6C), releasing coenzyme A.
  2. Isomerisation: Citrate is converted to its isomer isocitrate (via cis-aconitate) by the enzyme aconitase.
  3. First oxidative decarboxylation: Isocitrate is oxidised and decarboxylated by isocitrate dehydrogenase to form alpha-ketoglutarate (5C), releasing one molecule of CO2 and reducing NAD+ to NADH.
  4. Second oxidative decarboxylation: Alpha-ketoglutarate is oxidatively decarboxylated by the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex to form succinyl-CoA (4C), releasing a second CO2 and generating another NADH.
  5. Substrate-level phosphorylation: Succinyl-CoA is converted to succinate by succinyl-CoA synthetase; this reaction is coupled to substrate-level phosphorylation, producing one molecule of GTP (which is readily converted to ATP).
  6. Oxidation of succinate: Succinate is oxidised to fumarate by succinate dehydrogenase (the only Krebs cycle enzyme embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane), producing FADH2.
  7. Hydration: Fumarate is hydrated by fumarase to form malate. …

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