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THE CITRIC ACID CYCLE

• Energy is released from molecules such as carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids by the action of the Citric Acid Cycle, also known as the Kreb's cycle. Pyruvate and acetyl-CoA are initially produced as degradation products of these fuel molecules, and are then oxidised via a series of enzyme reactions. The cycle releases carbon dioxide and initiates the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cells.
  
  (Image taken from http://www.bmb.leeds.ac.uk/illingworth/metabol/krebs.htm#start without permission)
  
  
• For an excellent website about the citric acid cycle, see
  
  http://www.bits.bris.ac.uk/floris/,
  
  and also
  
  http://www.bmb.leeds.ac.uk/illingworth/metabol/krebs.htm#start.