Question

The citric acid cycle is considered to be aerobic even though no O2 is actually used or involved. Explain

Answer 1

The citric acid cycle is considered to be aerobic even though no O2 is actually used or involved. NADH and FADH2 that is produced during citric acid cycle undergo redox reaction by the ETC, which is located inside the mitochondria. This ETC is responsible for production of large quantities of ATP and consumption of oxygen. During this movement of elections via ETC it converts NADH and FADH2 into reactants that the Krebs cycle requires to function. If oxygen is not present, the respiratory cycle cannot function, as a result citric acid cycle shuts down. So Citric acid cycle is considered an aerobic pathway.