What are the primary products of the Krebs cycle?

The primary products of the Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, include carbon dioxide (CO2), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the electron carriers nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2).

During the Krebs cycle, Acetyl-CoA, derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, enters the cycle and undergoes a series of enzymatic reactions that lead to the production of these key molecules. The carbon atoms from Acetyl-CoA are ultimately released as CO2, which is why carbon dioxide is one of the primary products. Additionally, the cycle generates energy in the form of ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation.

NADH and FADH2 are produced as major electron carriers that transport electrons to the electron transport chain, where they play a vital role in the aerobic production of additional ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. These products are crucial for cellular respiration, making the Krebs cycle a central metabolic pathway in aerobic organisms.