where does krebs cycle occur

Sourav PanApril 18, 2025

Answered

The Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, occurs in the mitochondrial matrix of eukaryotic cells. The mitochondrial matrix is the innermost compartment of mitochondria, surrounded by the inner mitochondrial membrane, where enzymes and substrates required for the cycle are concentrated. In prokaryotic organisms, which lack membrane-bound organelles, the Krebs cycle occurs in the cytoplasm. This compartmentalization in eukaryotes allows efficient coordination of metabolic processes like oxidative phosphorylation, ensuring that the high-energy electrons produced in the cycle are directly transferred to the electron transport chain located on the inner mitochondrial membrane.