Question

What is TCA cycle? Describe its different steps.

Answer 1

The TCA cycle is the central pathway into which many metabolites feed. It consists of a number of reactions which generate NADH and FADH2 which can, in turn, be used by the oxidative phosphorylation pathway to generate ATP.

Steps of the TCA cycle

1. First, the acetyl CoA joins with oxaloacetate to form citrate.

2. The citrate is then converted to isocitrate.

3. Isocitrate is then oxidized to alpha-ketoglutarate.

4. Again alpha-ketoglutarate is oxidized to form 4 carbon molecule.

5.succinyl CoA is converted to succinate.

6. Succinate is converted to fumarate.

7. Fumarate is converted to malate

8. Malate is converted into oxaloacetate and NADH is also produced here.