Conquer the Kaplan Nursing Entrance 2026 – Prep, Practice, and Prosper!

The Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle, is a fundamental component of cellular respiration that plays a crucial role in energy production within the cell. Its primary function is to transform glucose and other substrates into usable forms of chemical energy, specifically in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

During the Krebs cycle, acetyl-CoA, derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, enters the cycle and undergoes a series of enzymatic reactions. These reactions produce reduced cofactors, notably nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2). These cofactors are essential for the electron transport chain, where they ultimately lead to the generation of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

The cycle also produces carbon dioxide as a waste product, which is expelled from the cell and exhaled by organisms. This process demonstrates the Krebs cycle's critical role in cellular metabolism, as it integrates carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, showcasing its importance in converting different types of nutrients into energy.

Other options do not accurately capture the role of the Krebs cycle in energy production. The conversion of bacteria into glucose does not pertain to the Krebs cycle, and while the