Citric acid cycle

The citric acid cycle is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats and proteins into carbon dioxide and chemical energy in the form of ATP. In addition, the cycle provides precursors of certain amino acids as well as the reducing agent NADH. In eukaryotic cells, the citric acid cycle occurs in the matrix of the mitochondrion.