1. Takes place during aerobic respiration:
Pyruvate under aerobic condition produces energy and under anaerobic condition they undergo a process of fermentation forming lactic acid or alcohol
2. TCA Cycle is irreversible at 3 steps: producing high amount of negative energy.
The 3 steps involve the enzymes: citrate synthase, α – ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase.
3. Pyruvate; an end product of glucose metabolism; is transported from cytosol to mitochondria to become Acetyl Co – A.
Pyruvate is transported to mitochondria through Voltage gated channel crossing outer mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier then takes pyruvate through Inner Mitochondrial Membrane.
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex; an enzyme oxidizes Pyruvate to form Acetyl Co – A.
4. Cycle involves C6 to C4 in a series of steps:
Tricarboxylic Acid (C6 – 6 carbon compound) is formed by the combination of Acetyl Co – A (C2) and Oxaloacetate (C4).
Condensation process takes place between Oxaloacetate and Acetyl Co – A to form C6 compound.
Further the C6 compound catabolize to produce reduced equivalents (NADH, FADH2).
Oxaloacetate + Acetyl Co – A à Citrate (C6)
5. Eight enzymes are involved in 4 oxidations:
On each oxidation, number of carbo atoms present reduces gradually leaving out C4 compound. C4 the condense to form C6 and he cycle continues.
6. Two sources for Acetyl Co – A:
Acetyl Co – A is not only derived from Glycolysis. Fatty Acid oxidation also provides Acetyl Co – A as its direct end product which can be utilized by the Citric Acid Cycle.
7. A cycle with various intermediate forms:
Citric acid cycle forms various intermediates which provides substrates for different biosynthetic process in plants.
For Example: α – keto glutarate forms glutamate which is essential in Nucleic Acid formation
8. Citric Acid Cycle coupled with Electron Transport Chain:
The reduced equivalents from the cycle is directly transported to complexes present in the inner cell membrane of mitochondria to yield ATP.