Krebs Cycle and Link Reaction: Interactive Tutorial

1. Introduction

If oxygen is present in a cell where respiration is occurring, then glycolysis is followed by a series of reactions that completely oxidize pyruvate (pyruvic acid) and the molecules it gets broken down into. You can see this in steps “2” and “3” in the diagram below.

06_for-every-glucose-w-etc_for-every-glucose-w-etc

Step 2 is called the Link Reaction because it links glycolysis (which began the oxidation of glucose) with Step 3, the Krebs cycle (which completes this oxidation). By the end of the Krebs Cycle, the food that diffused into the cell in the form of glucose has been completely oxidized to carbon dioxide, the exhaust gas that we exhale. At the same time, the oxidation of food molecules (such as glucose) has generated the reduced, energy-rich, mobile electron carriers NADH and FADH₂, which will, in the last phase of cellular respiration, power the creation of ATP through the reactions of the electron transport chain. And if that weren’t enough, substrate-level phosphorylations that occur during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle directly create a small amount of ATP that’s immediately available for cellular work.

2. The Link Reaction

The starting compound in the link reaction is pyruvic acid, or pyruvate, the molecule that comes out of glycolysis.

11_very-simplified-glycolysis

As you can see above, two pyruvates are generated for each molecule of glucose that enters glycolysis. Though glucose was pretty worked over during glycolysis, with enzymes using its chemical bond energy to generate two NADHs and two ATPs, pyruvic acid still has plenty of energy that the cell can harvest. That harvest begins in the link reaction, which can be organized into three steps:

01b_link-reaction-numbered-and-lettered

The link reaction begins with pyruvic acid (letter “A”) diffusing into the mitochondrial matrix through the mitochondrial membrane (“B”). As pyruvate enters, enzymes snip off its carboxyl group (which you can see on the left side of the structural formula of pyruvate: it’s the carbon that’s double-bonded to one oxygen, and then attached to a second oxygen that has a negative charge). Snipping off the carboxyl group releases a molecule of carbon dioxide (CO₂). That CO₂ makes up one-third of the CO₂ generated in cellular respiration. Think about that the next time you exhale.
In the second step, enzymes take what’s left of pyruvate and oxidize it. The energetic electrons harvested in this oxidation flow to the mobile electron carrier NAD⁺, reducing it to NADH.
What we’re left with is a two-carbon molecule that’s called an acetyl group (C₂H₃O). Enzymes attach this acetyl group to Coenzyme A, which acts as a kind of shuttle, delivering the acetyl group to the Krebs cycle. This combination of an acetyl group and Coenzyme A is called acetyl CoA.

The chemical bonds in the acetyl group are full of potential energy. During the Krebs cycle, those bonds will power the formation of ATP, NADH, and FADH₂. We’ll study Krebs below, but first, let’s make sure we understand the link reaction.

[qwiz random = “true” qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Link Reaction Quiz (M10)”]

[h]The Link Reaction

[i]

[q labels = “top”]

[l]Acetyl-CoA

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Coenzyme A

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]CO₂

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]NADH

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]NAD⁺

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Pyruvate

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]cytoplasm

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]mitochondrial matrix

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[q]Which letter or number refers to pyruvic acid?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]IE E=[Qq]

[f]IFllcywg4oCcQeKAnSBpcyB0aGUgcHlydXZpYyBhY2lkLg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuIFB5cnV2aWMgYWNpZCAob3IgcHlydXZhdGUpIGlzIHRoZSB0aHJlZS1jYXJib24gbW9sZWN1bGUgdGhhdCBlbmRzIGdseWNvbHlzaXMgYW5kIGJlZ2lucyB0aGUgbGluayByZWFjdGlvbi4=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Which letter or number refers to the mitochondrial membrane?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]wq BC[Qq]

[f]IFllcywg4oCcQuKAnSBpcyB0aGXCoG1pdG9jaG9uZHJpYWwgbWVtYnJhbmUu[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIFdoYXQmIzgyMTc7cyB0aGUgb25seSB0aGluZyBpbiB0aGlzIGRpYWdyYW0gdGhhdCByZW1vdGVseSBsb29rcyBsaWtlIGl0IGNvdWxkIGJlIGEgbWVtYnJhbmU/

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Which letter or number refers to co-Enzyme A?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]wq BD[Qq]

[f]IFllcywg4oCcQ+KAnSBpcyBjby1Fbnp5bWUgQS4=[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuIENvLWVuenltZSBBIGVudGVycyB0aGUgbGluayByZWFjdGlvbiBhbmQgYmluZHMgd2l0aCB0aGUgdHdvLWNhcmJvbiBtb2xlY3VsZSB0aGF0JiM4MjE3O3MgbGVmdCBhZnRlciBweXJ1dmF0ZSBoYXMgaGFkIGEgQ08=_Mg==wqByZW1vdmVkIGZyb20gaXQgYW5kIGhhc8KgYmVlbiBveGlkaXplZCAoaW4gc3RlcHMgMSBhbmQgMikuIFdoYXQgZG8geW91IHNlZSBjb21pbmcgaW50byB0aGUgbGluayByZWFjdGlvbiB0byBiaW5kIHdpdGggdGhlIHR3byBjYXJib24gbW9sZWN1bGUgdGhhdCByZW1haW5zPw==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Which letter or number refers to Acetyl CoA?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]wq BE[Qq]

[f]IFllcywg4oCcROKAnSBpcyBBY2V0eWwgQ29BLg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuIEFjZXR5bCBDb0EgaXMgYSB0d28tY2FyYm9uIG1vbGVjdWxlLCBhdHRhY2hlZCB0byBDb2VuenltZSBBLg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Which letter or number refers to the step where molecules from food are oxidized?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]wq Ay[Qq]

[f]IFllcywg4oCcMuKAnSBpbnZvbHZlcyB0aGUgb3hpZGF0aW9uIG9mIG1vbGVjdWxlcyBkZXJpdmVkIGZyb20gZm9vZCAoc3VjaCBhcyBnbHVjb3NlKS4gVGhhdCBveGlkYXRpb24gaXMgcG93ZXJpbmcgdGhlIHJlZHVjdGlvbiBvZiBOQUQ=^Kw==IHRvIE5BREgu[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuwqBPeGlkYXRpb25zIGFyZSBwYWlyZWQgd2l0aCByZWR1Y3Rpb25zLCBhbmQgdGhlIHJlZHVjZWQgcHJvZHVjdCBvZiB0aGUgbGluayByZWFjdGlvbiBpcyBOQURILg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Which number refers to the step where Acetyl CoA gets produced?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]wq Az[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gSW4gc3RlcCDigJwzLOKAnSBhIHR3by1jYXJib24gYWNldHlsIGdyb3VwIGlzIGF0dGFjaGVkIHRvIENvZW56eW1lIEEsIHJlc3VsdGluZyBpbiBhY2V0eWwgQ29BLg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuIExvb2sgZm9yIGEgdHdvLWNhcmJvbiBhY2V0eWwgZ3JvdXAsIGF0dGFjaGVkIHRvIENvRW56eW1lIEEgKGxvb2sgZm9yIH5TLUNvQSkuIFdoZXJlIGlzIHRoaXMgYmVpbmcgZm9ybWVkPw==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In which step are enzymes snipping a carboxyl group off of pyruvic acid?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]wq Ax[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gSW4gc3RlcCDigJwxLOKAncKgZW56eW1lcyBhcmUgcmVtb3ZpbmcgYSBjYXJib3h5bCBncm91cCBmcm9tIHB5cnV2aWMgYWNpZC4=[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuIFdoZW4gdGhhdCBjYXJib3h5bCBncm91cCBnZXRzIHJlbW92ZWQsIENP_Mg==IGdldHMgcmVsZWFzZWQuIFdoaWNoIHN0ZXAgcmVsZWFzZXMgQ08=_Mg==Pw==

[Qq]

[q]In which step is a reduced electron carrier being generated?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]wq Ay[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gSW4gc3RlcCDigJwy4oCdIE5BREgsIGEgcmVkdWNlZCBlbGVjdHJvbiBjYXJyaWVyLCBpcyBiZWluZyBnZW5lcmF0ZWQu[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuIFRoZSBlbGVjdHJvbiBjYXJyaWVycyBpbnZvbHZlZCBpbiBjZWxsdWxhciByZXNwaXJhdGlvbiBhcmUgTkFESCBhbmQgRkFESA==_Mg==LiBXaGVyZSBkbyB5b3Ugc2VlIGVpdGhlciBvZiB0aGVzZSBtb2xlY3VsZXMgYmVpbmcgZ2VuZXJhdGVkPw==[Qq]

[/qwiz]

3. The Krebs Cycle

The Krebs cycle lies at the center of aerobic (oxygen-using) metabolism. The cycle goes by three names.

Krebs Cycle: for Hans Krebs (1900 – 1981) the scientist who worked out the cycle in the 1930s. Krebs won the Nobel prize for this work in 1953.
Citric Acid Cycle: for the six-carbon compound (Citric Acid, or citrate) that forms at the start of the cycle. If you haven’t already, take a look at the structural formula for citric acid to your left.
TCA cycle: TCA is an acronym for tri-carboxylic acid, another name for Citric Acid. Look at the structural formula for Citric Acid and find the three carboxyl groups.

02a_krebs-simplified To emphasize the key points about the Krebs Cycle, I’ve created the diagram to your left. Note that it includes only three named compounds (which I’ll say more about below). For all of the other primary substrates for the enzymatic reactions that make up the cycle, I’ve listed only the number of carbons that make up the compound. That’s because that’s more than enough detail for AP Biology.

Here are the key things to know. Refer to the diagram as you read.

Acetyl CoA brings chemical energy into the cycle in the form of a two-carbon acetyl group. Those two carbons, with their attached hydrogen atoms, were at one point a part of glucose (or another food molecule).
At the start of the Krebs cycle, enzymes detach the two-carbon acetyl group from Acetyl CoA and attach it to a four-carbon molecule called oxaloacetate (also known as oxalic acid). This is reaction “1” in the diagram above. The result is the six-carbon molecule Citric Acid.
The rest of the cycle involves enzymes that do one or more of the following:
1. molecular rearrangements that change citric acid or its derivatives into other forms that become the substrates for the next reaction. Reactions “2” and “7” are rearrangements.
2. removing carboxyl groups, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide. You can see the removal of CO₂s at “3” and “4.” Note that when this occurs, the molecules in the cycle are losing carbon atoms (and hence, 6-carbon molecules become 5-carbon molecules, and 5-carbon molecules become 4-carbon molecules)
3. Oxidation-Reduction Reactions. The food-derived molecules in the cycle are oxidized. These oxidations power the reduction of the electron carriers NAD⁺ to NADH and FAD to FADH₂. Oxidation-reductions occur in reactions “3,” “4,” “6,” and “8.”
4. Substrate-level phosphorylations: At one point in the cycle (reaction “5”), enzymes use the chemical energy that was provided by acetyl-CoA to phosphorylate an ADP, creating an ATP that the cell can immediately use for energy.
  Note that in a more complex presentation of the cycle, (a tiny piece of which is shown to the left) you’d see that at step 5, a molecule called GTP (a compound closely related in structure and function to ATP) gets created before ATP itself appears. It’s a complication that you don’t need to worry about, but you’ll see it in every textbook, website, and diagram. Just know that Krebs directly creates one ATP for every two-carbon acetyl group entering the cycle.

Krebs: Six things to memorize

Energy enters the cycle in the form of a two-carbon molecule, brought in by acetyl Co-A.
This two-carbon molecule combines with a four-carbon molecule called oxalic acid, generating the six-carbon molecule citric acid.
During the cycle, the cell harvests
1. One ATP
2. Three NADHs
3. One FADH₂.
Two CO₂are released as a waste product. This accounts for 2/3 of the CO₂ produced during cellular respiration (the other third, you’ll remember, was produced in the link reaction).
For every glucose that enters cellular respiration, the Krebs cycle runs twice (because glucose gets broken down to two pyruvates, which become two Acetyl CoAs.
This is all occurring in the mitochondrial matrix.

Got it? Let’s work with these diagrams and some of the key facts to make sure that they become consolidated in memory.

[qwiz qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Krebs Cycle Quiz 1 (M10)”]

[h]The Krebs Cycle Quiz 1

[i]

[q]For every two carbons that acetyl-CoA brings into the cycle, how many FADH₂s will the Krebs cycle produce?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]MQ ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gRm9yIGV2ZXJ5IHR3byBjYXJib25zIHRoYXQgYWNldHlsLUNvQSBicmluZ3MgaW50b8KgdGhlIGN5Y2xlLMKgdGhlIEtyZWJzIGN5Y2xlIHdpbGwgcHJvZHVjZSBvbmUgRkFESA==_Mg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdywgYW5kIHJlbWVtYmVyIHRoZSBhbnN3ZXIgd2hlbiB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24gYWdhaW4u

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]For every two carbons that acetyl-CoA brings into the cycle, how many NADHs will the Krebs cycle produce?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]Mw ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gRm9yIGV2ZXJ5IHR3byBjYXJib25zIHRoYXQgYWNldHlsLUNvQSBicmluZ3MgaW50b8KgdGhlIGN5Y2xlLMKgdGhlIEtyZWJzIGN5Y2xlIHdpbGwgcHJvZHVjZSB0aHJlZcKgTkFESA==cy4=[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdywgYW5kIHJlbWVtYmVyIHRoZSBhbnN3ZXIgd2hlbiB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24gYWdhaW4u

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]For every two carbons that acetyl-CoA brings into the cycle, how many ATPs will the Krebs cycle produce?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]MQ ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gRm9yIGV2ZXJ5IHR3byBjYXJib25zIHRoYXQgYWNldHlsLUNvQSBicmluZ3MgaW50b8KgdGhlIGN5Y2xlLMKgdGhlIEtyZWJzIGN5Y2xlIHdpbGwgcHJvZHVjZSBvbmUgQVRQLg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdywgYW5kIHJlbWVtYmVyIHRoZSBhbnN3ZXIgd2hlbiB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24gYWdhaW4u

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]When acetyl-CoA brings chemical energy into the TCA cycle, how many carbon atoms are being brought in?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]Mg ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gQWNldHlsIENvQSwgYXMgaXQgc2h1dHRsZXMgbWF0ZXJpYWwgaW50byB0aGXCoFRDQSBjeWNsZSwgaXMgYnJpbmdpbmcgaW4gMsKgY2FyYm9uIGF0b21zLg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdywgYW5kIHJlbWVtYmVyIHRoZSBhbnN3ZXIgd2hlbiB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24gYWdhaW4u

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Oxaloacetate (or oxalic acid) is the molecule that accepts the carbons that Acetyl CoA brings into the Krebs cycle. How many carbons are in oxaloacetate?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]NA ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gT3hhbG9hY2V0YXRlIGlzIGEgZm91ci1jYXJib24=IG1vbGVjdWxlLiBCeSBjb21iaW5pbmcgd2l0aCB0d28gY2FyYm9ucyBmcm9tIEFjZXR5bCBDb0EsIGl0IGNyZWF0ZXMgdGhlIHNpeC1jYXJib24gY29tcG91bmQgQ2l0cmljIEFjaWQu[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdywgYW5kIHJlbWVtYmVyIHRoZSBhbnN3ZXIgd2hlbiB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24gYWdhaW4u

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Citrate (or citric acid) results from the combination of oxaloacetate and the two carbons brought to the Citric Acid cycle by Acetyl CoA. How many carbons are in citrate (or citric acid)?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]Ng ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gQ2l0cmljIGFjaWQgaXMgYSA2LWNhcmJvbiBtb2xlY3VsZSwgZm9ybWVkIGFzIGVuenltZXMgY29tYmluZSB0aGUgdHdvIGNhcmJvbnMgZnJvbSBBY2V0eWwgQ29BIHdpdGggdGhlIGZvdXItY2FyYm9uIG94YWxvYWNldGF0ZS4=[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdywgYW5kIHJlbWVtYmVyIHRoZSBhbnN3ZXIgd2hlbiB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24gYWdhaW4u

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In reaction 3 in the diagram below, NAD⁺ is being

[c]b3hpZGl6ZWQ=[Qq]

[c]cmVkdW NlZA==[Qq]

[c]cGhvc3Bob3J5bGF0ZWQ=[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE5BRA==^Kw==IGlzIGdhaW5pbmcgZWxlY3Ryb25zLiBUaGUgZ2FpbiBvZiBlbGVjdHJvbnMgaXMgdGhlIA==b3Bwb3NpdGU=IG9mIG94aWRhdGlvbi4=[Qq]

[f]WWVzISBOQUQ=^Kw==IGlzIGdhaW5pbmcgZWxlY3Ryb25zwqBhbmQgYmVpbmcgcmVkdWNlZCB0byBOQURILg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBQaG9zcGhvcnlsYXRpb24gaGFwcGVucyBpbiB0aGUgS3JlYnMgY3ljbGUsIGJ1dCBub3QgaGVyZSBpbiByZWFjdGlvbiAzLiBXaGF0JiM4MjE3O3MgdGhlIG5hbWUgZm9yIHRoZSBwcm9jZXNzIHdoZW4gYSBzdWJzdGFuY2UgZ2FpbnMgZWxlY3Ryb25zIChhcyB3ZWxsIGFzIGh5ZHJvZ2VuKT8=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Reaction 5 in the diagram below involves a(n)

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[c]cmVkdWN0aW9u[Qq]

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[f]Tm8uIFJlZHVjdGlvbiBpbnZvbHZlcyB0aGUgZ2FpbiBvZiBlbGVjdHJvbnMgKGFuZCBoeWRyb2dlbikuIEluIHRoZSBLcmVicyBjeWNsZSwgdGhlcmUgYXJlIHN0ZXBzIHdoZXJlIE5BRA==^KyA=YW5kIEZBRCBhcmUgcmVkdWNlZCB0byBOQURIIGFuZCBGQURI_Mg==wqAoYnV0IHRoYXQmIzgyMTc7cyBub3QgaGFwcGVuaW5nIGhlcmUgaW4gc3RlcCA1KS4gV2hhdCYjODIxNztzIGl0IGNhbGxlZCB3aGVuIEFEUCBhbmQgUA==_[Qq]i are made into ATP through the action of enzymes?

[f]WWVzLiBUaGUgcmVhY3Rpb24gc2hvd24gaW4gc3RlcCA1IGlzIGEgc3Vic3RyYXRlLWxldmVsIHBob3NwaG9yeWxhdGlvbiwgY29udmVydGluZyBBRFAgdG8gQVRQLg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In reaction 6 in the diagram below, FAD is being

[c]cGhvc3Bob3J5bGF0ZWQ=[Qq]

[c]b3hpZGl6ZWQ=[Qq]

[c]cmVkdW NlZA==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIFN1YnN0cmF0ZSBsZXZlbCBwaG9zcGhvcnlsYXRpb24gaW52b2x2ZXMgZW56eW1lcyBhZGRpbmcgcGhvc3BoYXRlIHRvIEFEUCwgY3JlYXRpbmcgQVRQLiBIZXJlLCBpbiBzdGVwIDYsIEZBRMKgaXMgZ2FpbmluZyBlbGVjdHJvbnMgKGFuZCBoeWRyb2dlbnMpLiBXaGF0JiM4MjE3O3MgdGhlIG5hbWUgZm9yIHRoZSBnYWluIG9mIGVsZWN0cm9ucz8=[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBPeGlkYXRpb24gaXMgdGhlIGxvc3Mgb2YgZWxlY3Ryb25zLiBTb21ldGhpbmcgaXMgYmVpbmcgb3hpZGl6ZWQgaGVyZSwgYnV0IGl0JiM4MjE3O3Mgbm90IEZBRCwgd2hpY2ggaXMgZXhwZXJpZW5jaW5nIHRoZSA=b3Bwb3NpdGU=IG9mIG94aWRhdGlvbi4gV2hhdCYjODIxNztzIGl0IGNhbGxlZCB3aGVuIGEgc3Vic3RhbmNlIGdhaW5zIGVsZWN0cm9ucyAoYW5kIGh5ZHJvZ2VuKT8=[Qq]

[f]WWVzLiBJbiBzdGVwIDYswqBGQUTCoGlzIGdhaW5pbmcgZWxlY3Ryb25zIChhbmQgaHlkcm9nZW5zKSwgYmVjb21pbmcgcmVkdWNlZCB0byBGQURI_Mg==Lg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In reaction 8, molecules originally from food are being

[c]cGhvc3Bob3J5bGF0ZWQ=[Qq]

[c]b3hpZG l6ZWQ=[Qq]

[c]cmVkdWNlZA==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIFBob3NwaG9yeWxhdGlvbiBpbnZvbHZlcyBhZGRpbmcgYSBwaG9zcGhhdGUgZ3JvdXAgdG8gYSBzdWJzdGFuY2UuIEluIHRoZSBLcmVicyBjeWNsZSwgb25lIHBob3NwaG9yeWxhdGlvbiBvY2N1cnMgd2hlbiBBRFAgaXMgbWFkZSBpbnRvIEFUUCwgYnV0IHRoYXQmIzgyMTc7cyBub3Qgd2hhdCYjODIxNztzIGhhcHBlbmluZyBoZXJlLiBXaGF0IGhhcyB0byBoYXBwZW4gdG8gZm9vZCBzbyB0aGF0IE5BRA==^Kw==IGNhbiBiZSByZWR1Y2VkIHRvIE5BREg/[Qq]

[f]WWVzLiBGb3IgTkFE^Kw==wqB0byBiZSByZWR1Y2VkIHRvIE5BREgsIGZvb2QgaGFzIHRvIGJlIG94aWRpemVkICh3aGljaCBwcm92aWRlcyB0aGUgZWxlY3Ryb25zIGFuZCBoeWRyb2dlbnMgZm9yIE5BRA==^Kw==IHJlZHVjdGlvbiku[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEluIHN0ZXAgOCwgTkFE^Kw==IGlzIGJlaW5nIHJlZHVjZWQgdG8gTkFESC4gRm9yIHRoaXMgcmVkdWN0aW9uIHRvIGhhcHBlbiwgd2hhdCBoYXMgdG8gYmUgaGFwcGVuaW5nIHRvIGZvb2QgKHRvIHByb3ZpZGUgdGhlIGVsZWN0cm9ucyBhbmQgaHlkcm9nZW5zIGZvciB0aGlzIHJlZHVjdGlvbiku

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram below, which number shows where the Krebs Cycle occurs?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]NQ ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gVGhlIEtyZWJzIGN5Y2xlIG9jY3VycyBpbiB0aGUgbWl0b2Nob25kcmlhbCBtYXRyaXgsIHdoaWNoIGlzIGF0IG51bWJlciA1Lg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuwqBUaGUgS3JlYnMgY3ljbGUgb2NjdXJzIHdpdGhpbiB0aGUgbWl0b2Nob25kcmlhbCBtYXRyaXguIFdoYXQgbnVtYmVyIGNvdWxkIHRoYXQgYmU/

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Before the link reaction, you’d find pyruvate in which part of the cell?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]Mw ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gUHlydXZhdGUgaXMgbWFkZSBkdXJpbmcgZ2x5Y29seXNpcywgd2hpY2ggb2NjdXJzIGluIHRoZSBjeXRvcGxhc20gb2YgdGhlIGNlbGwsIGFzIHNob3duIGluIG51bWJlciAzLg==[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuwqBQeXJ1dmF0ZSBpcyBnZW5lcmF0ZWQgZHVyaW5nIHRoZSBsYXN0IHBoYXNlIG9mIGdseWNvbHlzaXMsIHdoaWNoIG9jY3VycyBpbiB0aGUgY2VsbCYjODIxNztzIGN5dG9wbGFzbS4gV2hpY2ggbnVtYmVyIGNvdWxkIGJlIHRoZSBjeXRvcGxhc20/

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram below, which numbered step shows the link reaction?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]Mg ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gVGhlIExpbmsgUmVhY3Rpb24gaXMgb2NjdXJyaW5nIGluIHN0ZXAgMiwgYXMgcHlydXZhdGUgZW50ZXJzIHRoZSBtaXRvY2hvbmRyaWEsIGdldHMgY29udmVydGVkIHRvIEFjZXR5bCBDb0EsIHJlbGVhc2VzIENP_Miw=IGFuZCBnZW5lcmF0ZXMgb25lIE5BREgu[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuwqBUaGXCoGxpbmsgcmVhY3Rpb24gbGlua3MgZ2x5Y29seXNpcyBhbmQgdGhlIEtyZWJzIGN5Y2xlLiBXaGljaCBzdGVwIHByb3ZpZGVzIGEgbGluayBiZXR3ZWVuIHRob3NlIHR3b8KgcHJvY2Vzc2VzPw==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram below, which number would be the Krebs cycle?

[textentry single_char=”true”]

[c]Mw ==[Qq]

[f]IFllcy4gVGhlIEtyZWJzIGN5Y2xlwqBpcyBhdCBudW1iZXIgMy4=[Qq]

[c]Kg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIEhlcmUmIzgyMTc7cyBhIGhpbnQuIFdoaWNoIG9mIHRoZSBwcm9jZXNzZXMgc2hvd24gaW4gdGhpcyBkaWFncmFtIGNvdWxkIGJlIGEgY3ljbGU/

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]For each molecule of glucose that enters cellular respiration, which of the processes below generates the most NADH?

[c]Z2x5Y29seXNpcw==[Qq]

[c]bGluayByZWFjdGlvbg==[Qq]

[c]S3JlYnMg Y3ljbGU=[Qq]

[c]ZWxlY3Ryb24gdHJhbnNwb3J0IGNoYWlu[Qq]

[f]Tm8uwqBHbHljb2x5c2lzIGdlbmVyYXRlcyBvbmx5IHR3byBOQURIcy9nbHVjb3NlLiBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdyBhbmQgcmVtZW1iZXIgeW91ciBhbnN3ZXIgdGhlIG5leHQgdGltZSB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24u

Cg==

[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIFRoZSBsaW5rIHJlYWN0aW9uIGdlbmVyYXRlcyBvbmUgTkFESC9weXJ1dmF0ZSBhbmQgdHdvIE5BREhzL2dsdWNvc2UuIFN0dWR5IHRoZSBkaWFncmFtIGJlbG93IGFuZCByZW1lbWJlciB5b3VyIGFuc3dlciB0aGUgbmV4dCB0aW1lIHlvdSBzZWUgdGhpcyBxdWVzdGlvbi4=

Cg==

[Qq]

[f]WWVzLsKgVGhlwqBLcmVicyBjeWNsZcKgZ2VuZXJhdGVzIG1vcmUgTkFESC9nbHVjb3NlIHRoYW4gYW55IG90aGVyIHBoYXNlIG9mIGNlbGx1bGFyIHJlc3BpcmF0aW9uLg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIFRoZSBlbGVjdHJvbiB0cmFuc3BvcnQgY2hhaW4gZG9lc24mIzgyMTc7dCBwcm9kdWNlIE5BREg6IGl0IGNvbnN1bWVzIGl0LiBTdHVkeSB0aGUgZGlhZ3JhbSBiZWxvdyBhbmQgcmVtZW1iZXIgeW91ciBhbnN3ZXIgdGhlIG5leHQgdGltZSB5b3Ugc2VlIHRoaXMgcXVlc3Rpb24u

Cg==

[Qq]

[x][restart]

[/qwiz]

4. Interactive Diagram: Products of the Krebs Cycle

The diagram below is a bit more detailed than anything you’ve seen before on this page. But you can figure it out by following these hints:

If a molecule within the cycle is losing hydrogen, then it’s being oxidized, and it can power the reduction of NAD+ to NADH.
If a molecule loses a carboxyl group, then it’s almost certainly releasing CO₂.
At one point in the cycle, one of the substrates loses two hydrogens. That loss enables the reduction of FAD to FADH₂.
ATP is made from ADP in two steps. First, a related molecule (GTP) is synthesized from its counterpart, GDP. Then GTP powers ATP creation. See if you can figure it out.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT MAKING MISTAKES!

[qwiz qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Products of the Krebs Cycle Interactive Diagram”]

[h]Products of the Krebs Cycle interactive diagram

[q labels = “top”]

[l]NAD⁺

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]NADH

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]CO₂

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]FADH₂

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]GDP

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]GTP

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]ADP

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]ATP

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]FAD

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[/qwiz]

5. Krebs and Link Reaction Fill in the Blanks Quiz

[qwiz qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Krebs and Link Fill-in-the-Blanks (M10)”]

[h]Krebs Cycle and Link Reaction Fill-in-the-Blanks Quiz

[i]

[q] The Krebs cycle occurs in the [hangman] of the mitochondria. The cycle makes the [hangman] carriers NADH and FADH₂_.

[c]bWF0cml4[Qq]

[c]ZWxlY3Ryb24=[Qq]

[q]The Krebs cycle makes the electron carriers [hangman] and FADH₂

[c]TkFESA==[Qq]

[q]Krebs is also known as the [hangman] acid cycle and the tri[hangman]acid.

[c]Q2l0cmlj[Qq]

[c]Y2FyYm94eWxpYw==[Qq]

[q]Each turn of the Krebs cycle produces one ATP, [hangman] NADH, and [hangman] FADH₂.

[c]dGhyZWU=[Qq]

[c]b25l[Qq]

[q]The link reaction converts [hangman] acid to Acetyl-CoA. Carbon dioxide is released as a [hangman] product, and one [hangman] is produced.

[c]cHlydXZpYw==[Qq]

[c]d2FzdGU=[Qq]

[c]TkFESA==[Qq]

[q]Acetyl-CoA carries [hangman] carbon atoms into the Krebs cycle. The chemical energy brought into Krebs by acetyl Co-A was originally energy in [hangman],

[c]dHdv[Qq]

[c]Zm9vZA==[Qq]

[q]At the start of Krebs Acetyl-CoA’s two carbons combine with oxaloacetate, a [hangman] carbon molecule

[c]Zm91cg==[Qq]

[q]During the Krebs cycle, three oxidations power the creation of the electron carrier [hangman]. The final oxidation reaction in Krebs results in [hangman] of FADto FADH₂ and leaves us with the [hangman]-carbon molecule oxaloacetate.

[c]TkFESA==[Qq]

[c]cmVkdWN0aW9u[Qq]

[c]Zm91cg==[Qq]

[q]The link reaction links [hangman] to the Krebs Cycle. It converts pyruvic acid to Acetyl-CoA. Carbon dioxide is released as a waste product, and one [hangman] is produced.

[c]Z2x5Y29seXNpcw==[Qq]

[c]TkFESA==[Qq]

[q]Combining Acetyl-CoA with oxaloacetate creates six-carbon [hangman] acid.

[c]Y2l0cmlj[Qq]

[q]During Krebs [hangman] molecules of carbon dioxide are released as exhaust.

[c]dHdv[Qq]

[x][restart]

[/qwiz]

6. Krebs Cycle Interactive Lyrics

Ok: You’ve watched the video and heard the song. Now read through the lyrics, dragging in words as needed. Why? Research shows that adding this little bit of interactivity will increase your memory of what you read. Give it a try!

[qwiz qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Krebs Interactive Lyrics (M10)”]

[h]Interactive Lyrics: Krebs Cycle

[i]

[q labels = “top”]

In the ________ of the mitochondria of all our cells
Is the cycle of reactions that won Hans Krebs the Nobel Prize
This cycle takes the ________ in food
And makes it into other forms that your cells can use.

Krebs Cycle makes the electron carrier ________
Which later brings ___________ to the electron transport chain.
And Krebs makes FADH₂ its function is the same,
Krebs also makes some ATP another claim to fame.

[l]electrons

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]energy

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]matrix

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]NADH

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[q labels = “top”]

CHORUS

(we’re talking) KREBS!
It’s the _______ Acid Cycle
KREBS!
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle
Krebs– each cycle makes
_____ ATP, _______ NADH, one FADH₂

[l]Citric

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]one

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]three

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[q labels = “top”]

Right before the cycle’s a transitional part
Links Krebs to glycolysis, so Krebs can start
Enzymes break a CO₂ off a ___________
Yields an NADH and _____________

Acetyl-CoA carries __________ two
With all the energy that derives from food
It’s a highly _________ molecule with energized electrons
It fuels up the Krebs cycle as it cycles on.

[l]Acetyl-CoA

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]carbons

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Pyruvate

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]reduced

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[q labels = “top”]

Now at the start of Krebs this Acetyl-CoA
Has the two carbons it carries in ripped away
Enzymes put these on _______________ with carbons four,
Makes ____________ citric acid who could ask for more?

Notice _______ carboxyl groups on that citric acid
It’s why the cycle’s also named for _______________ Acid
Or TCA Cycle, if it’s acronyms that you prefer
Or Krebs in honor of its discoverer!

CHORUS

[l]oxaloacetate

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]six-carbon

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]three

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]Tricarboxylic

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[q labels = “top”]

Enzymes work on Citric Acid and remove a _____
and other enzymes modify and oxidize it too,
The five-carbon result is _________________.
Krebs cycle, it’s so great!

Every oxidation can power the reduction,
of NAD plus which gains electron carrying function,
Becoming ________, that energy sensation
Which later on in respiration powers _____ creation

[l]α-Ketoglutarate

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]ATP

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]CO₂

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]NADH

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[q labels = “top”]

Another ____________ follows, another CO₂ removed
Leaving us with a _____ carbon molecule
Another ________ results from this oxidation
As Krebs does its energy transformations

This four-carbon molecule (Succinyl CoA),
Still has lots of energy, enzymes can take away
A series of reactions yield one _____
The cell’s main energy currency.

[l]ATP

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]four

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]NADH

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]oxidation

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[q labels = “top”]

Leavin’ just enough energy for enzymes to reduce
An FAD to ________
And one last ______ will also get reduced
As the final ‘lectron carrier NADH gets produced.

We’ve harvested what energy came in at Krebs’s start,
Now we have _______________ at this final part
Oxaloacetate is the commencement and finale
Ready to meet ________ CoA, and here at the final tally

[l]acetyl

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]FADH₂

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]NAD⁺

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]oxaloacetate

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[q labels = “top”]

BRIDGE

_______ goes round and round, such an ancient cycle,
Spinning like the wheels of my bicycle.
Krebs is like the axle of _________ respiration,
I breathe out its CO₂ with every exhalation!

We’ve walked through the cycle, so now let’s review
Input is ____________ with carbons two
The carbons get removed, releasing _____
Exhaling sends this CO₂ out of you.

[l]Acetyl-CoA

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]aerobic

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]CO₂

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Krebs

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[q labels = “top”]

The cycle’s function’s energy transformation
Three _______, one ________ creation
And also synthesis of one _____
Which cells directly utilize for energy

For every glucose cells absorb the cycle runs _____ times
As long as cells get fuel, Krebs is running just fine,
It precedes electron transport chain, it follows __________
It’s spinning round and round in the mitochondrial matrix

[l]ATP

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]FADH₂

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]glycolysis

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]NADH

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]two

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[/qwiz]

1. Introduction

2. The Link Reaction

3. The Krebs Cycle

Krebs: Six things to memorize

4. Interactive Diagram: Products of the Krebs Cycle

5. Krebs and Link Reaction Fill in the Blanks Quiz

6. Krebs Cycle Interactive Lyrics

Links

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