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Cell Biochem Biophys (2014) 68:475478

DOI 10.1007/s12013-013-9750-1

REVIEW PAPER

Citric Acid Cycle and Role of its Intermediates in Metabolism


Muhammad Akram

Published online: 26 September 2013


Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Abstract The citric acid cycle is the final common oxidative pathway for carbohydrates, fats and amino acids. It
is the most important metabolic pathway for the energy
supply to the body. TCA is the most important central
pathway connecting almost all the individual metabolic
pathways. In this review article, introduction, regulation
and energetics of TCA cycle have been discussed. The
present study was carried out to review literature on TCA
cycle.
Keywords TCA cycle  Energetics of TCA cycle 
Regulation of TCA cycle  Amphibolic role of TCA
cycle

Introduction
The citric acid cycle was proposed by Hans Adolf Krebs in
1937. The citric acid cycle is the primary metabolic pathway
for all the aerobic processes in an animal tissue. It is a series
of reactions that are important for the cells: C2 units or
acetyl-CoA that is derived from fats, carbohydrates and
lipids [12]. TCA cycle utilizes (indirectly) about 2/3 of the
total oxygen consumed by the body and generates about 2/3
of the total energy. The citric acid cycle is the final common
pathway for the oxidation of carbohydrate, protein and lipids. TCA plays an important role in gluconeogenesis,
transamination, deamination and lipogenesis. Oxidation of
acetyl-CoA by TCA cycle accounts for 2/3rd of total oxygen

consumption and ATP production. Acetyl-CoA is obtained


from amino acids like leucine, tyrosine, isoleucine, lysine,
phenylalanine and tryptophan, triacylglycerol, carbohydrates and ketone bodies. In aerobic organisms the TCA is
amphibolic pathway, one that participates both in the catabolic and anabolic processes [3]. Through its role in the
oxidative catabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids and
amino acids, the cycle provides precursors for many biosynthetic pathways. Unlike the other metabolic pathways/
cycle, very few genetic abnormalities of TCA cycle are
known. This may be due to the vital importance of this
metabolic cycle for the survival of life. It has been observed
that stimulation of Krebs cycle activity in the presence of
ACTH may lead to increased production of steroid precursor(s) of corticosterone which in turn creates an increased
demand for reducing equivalents for their conversion into
corticosterone.

History
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi and Hans Adolf Krebs [11] established reactions and components of TCA in 1930.
Location of TCA cycle
The enzymes of TCA cycle are located in mitochondrial
matrix [8].
Enzymes of TCA Cycle [17]

M. Akram (&)
Department of Eastern Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of
Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Poonch,
Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
e-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com; makram0451@gmail.com

Citrate synthase
Aconitase
Isocitrate dehydrogenase
Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase

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Succinyl-CoA synthase
Succinate dehydrogenase
Fumarase
Malate dehydrogenase

Sources of Acetyl-CoA
Acetyl-CoA is obtained from various sources including
carbohydrates in which glucose is broken down to pyruvic
acid and pyruvic acid is decarboxylated to acetyl-CoA.
Pyruvic acid is a three-carbon compound and acetyl-CoA is
a two-carbon compound. Acetyl-CoA (two-carbon compound) is the starting point for the TCA cycle. Breakdown
of acetyl-CoA is the catabolic role of TCA cycle. Jones
et al. [9] have reported the sources of acetyl-CoA for
entering the tricarboxylic acid cycle as determined by
analysis of succinate 13C isotopomers.

Stages of Citric Acid Cycle


Step 1: Condensation
Acetyl-CoA (two-carbon compound) and oxaloacetate
(four-carbon compound) are converted to citrate (six-carbon compound). This reaction is catalyzed by citrate
synthetase.
Step 2: Isomerization of Citrate
Citrate is converted to cis-aconitate. This is catalyzed by
aconitase [6]. Cis-aconitate is an intermediate and is further
converted to isocitrate by aconitase. Aconitase is involved
in both reactions. In which first dehydration and then
rehydration occur and as a result final product isocitrate is
obtained

Cell Biochem Biophys (2014) 68:475478

alpha-ketoglutarate is converted to succinyl-CoA by alphaketoglutarate dehydrogenase (Guffon et al. 1993).


Step 5: Substrate-Level Phosphorylation
Succinyl-CoA is converted to succinate by succinic thiokinase. In this reaction GDP is converted to GTP
Step 6: Flavin-Dependent Dehydrogenation
Succinate is converted to fumaric acid by succinate dehydrogenase [5]. In this reaction, FAD is converted to
FADH2.
Step 7: Hydration of a CarbonCarbon Double Bond
Hydration of the C=C double bond occurs that is catalyzed
by Fumarate Hydratase (also known as Fumarase) and
malate is formed [2].
Step 8: A Dehydrogenation Reaction that Regenerates
Oxaloacetate
Malate is dehydrogenated to produce oxaloacetate by the
enzyme Malate Dehydrogenase. In this reaction NAD is
converted to NADH2. Oxaloacetate formed in this reaction
reacts with acetyl-CoA to form citrate in order to start
another round of the citric acid cycle [15].

Energetics of TCA Cycle [13]


3 NADH2 = 9 ATP
1 FADH2 = 2 ATP
1 GTP = 1 ATP
Total ATP = 12 ATP
Requirement of Oxygen by TCA cycle

Step 3: Generation of CO2 by an NAD? Linked


Enzyme
Isocitrate is converted to alpha-ketoglutarate by isocitrate
dehydrogenase. Isocitrate is first dehydrogenated to
Oxalosuccinate which is an unstable compound and is
readily decarboxylated to alpha-ketoglutarate. In addition
to decarboxylation, this step produces a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH2) cofactor.
Step 4: A Second Oxidative Decarboxylation Step
This step is performed by a multi-enzyme complex, the
a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenation complex. In this reaction,

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There is no direct participation of oxygen in TCA. However, the cycle operates only under aerobic conditions [10].

Inhibitors of TCA
Fluoroacetate
It condenses with CoA and form fluoroacetyl-CoA. Fluoroacetyl-CoA condenses with oxaloacetate to form fluorocitrate that inhibits aconitase, as a result citrate start to
accumulate. Fonnum et al. [7] have studied the use of
fluorocitrate and fluoroacetate in the brain metabolism.

Cell Biochem Biophys (2014) 68:475478

Arsenite
It inhibits alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase
Malonate

477

only supplies energy but also provides many intermediates


required for the synthesis of amino acids, glucose, heme,
etc. The citric acid cycle is amphibolic, since it has other
metabolic roles in addition to oxidation. It takes place in
gluconeogenesis, transamination, deamination and the
synthesis of fatty acids.

It inhibits succinate dehydrogenase

Regulation of TCA
Three enzymes namely citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase regulate
citric acid cycle. Wan et al. [16] have reported the regulation of citric acid cycle by calcium.

Metabolic role of citric acid cycle


1.

2.

3.

Oxidation of acetyl-CoA Glucose and fatty acids form


acetyl-CoA. It is converted to carbon di-oxide and
water. Abdel-aleem et al. [1] stated that fatty acid
oxidation is regulated by acetyl-CoA generated from
glucose oxidation that is evident in a study conducted
in isolated myocytes.
Integration with amino acids metabolism Many amino
acids after being deaminated give rise to compounds
that are also intermediate metabolites in citric acid
cycle [14].
Integration with lipid metabolism Fatty acids are also
first oxidized to acetyl-CoA which is then oxidized in
the citric acid cycle [4]

Biosynthetic function
Several intermediates of this cycle take part in the formation of substances of great physiological importance. Citrate is provided to the lens of the eye, bone and the seminal
plasma. Citrate stimulates fatty acids synthesis by activating acetyl-CoA carboxylase

Conclusion
Citric acid cycle is one of the main metabolic pathways
that living cells utilize to completely oxidize biofuels to
carbon dioxide and water. The pyruvic acid formed as a
result of glycolysis is completely oxidized via this cycle.
Before pyruvic acid can enter citric acid cycle, it is converted to acetyl-CoA. The acetyl-CoA thus produced is
then completely oxidized in citric acid cycle. This cycle not

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Cell Biochem Biophys (2014) 68:475478


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