where does the krebs cycle take place

The Krebs cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix of eukaryotic cells. This matrix is a gel-like substance enclosed within the inner mitochondrial membrane, containing enzymes essential for the citric acid cycle. The cycle initiates with the condensation of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate to form citrate and continues through a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that result in the release of carbon dioxide, generation of NADH and FADH₂, and synthesis of a small amount of GTP (or ATP). In prokaryotic cells, the Krebs cycle operates in the cytoplasm, performing equivalent reactions without the compartmentalized mitochondrial environment.