The Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. This cycle is a crucial part of cellular respiration, where it plays a key role in generating energy as it processes the products of glycolysis.
In the mitochondria, the Krebs cycle begins when acetyl-CoA, derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, combines with oxaloacetate to form citrate. The cycle then goes through a series of enzymatic reactions that result in the production of ATP, NADH, and FADH2, which are essential for producing energy in the form of ATP through the electron transport chain.
Thus, the Krebs cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix, where it effectively facilitates energy production by processing organic molecules derived from food intake.