what is kreb cycle

The Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, is a key biochemical pathway in aerobic respiration, responsible for the oxidative degradation of acetyl-CoA into carbon dioxide, while generating high-energy electron carriers (NADH and FADH₂) and a molecule of GTP (or ATP). Discovered by Sir Hans Adolf Krebs in 1937, this cycle operates in the mitochondrial matrix in eukaryotic cells and in the cytoplasm in prokaryotes. It plays a crucial role in energy production, metabolic regulation, and provides precursors for various biosynthetic processes.