Question

Explain why the TCA cycle is technically considered aerobic even though there is no oxygen that is used or involved.

Answer 1

Where TCA cycle is also known as citric acid or Krebs cycle. Where it is a aerobic pathway because during the process of citric acid cycle many NADH and FADH2 are produced in the chain of reaction and these are the energy sources which convert into ATP in the electron transport chain by releasing the electrons which is accepted by the oxygen present in electron transport chain of mitochondria. Where oxygen is indirectly linked . where during these process if citric acid cycle is anerobic it goes on continuosly producing NADH molecules therefore the electron transport chain may stop due to no oxygen and cannot produce NAD+ for another cycle.Because of which TCA cycle is called as aerobic.