Mitochondria Lab: The Regulation of the Krebs Cycle, ADP, ATP, NADH

Mitochondria Lab

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Abstract

            All organisms that breath follow the Krebs Cycle. Though most often associated with the production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) through the breakdown of oxygen and glucose, the reality is that other metabolic processes that do not involve oxygen produce molecules  that enter into the Krebs Cycle. For example, in glycolysis and beta oxidation, both carbohydrates and fatty acids are converted into acetyl CoA, a product of the first stage of the Krebs Cycle. Similarly, the intermediates from the Krebs Cycle such as acetyl CoA can be used to synthesize other molecules, in this case, fatty acids. By understanding its reaction pathway, one begins to understand the role of intermediates in stimulating the Krebs Cycle, as well as the impact of inhibitors to the entire process. By conducting a series of experiments, the researcher hopes to determine how inhibitors work. In particular, the researcher hopes to discover which of the intermediates (enzymes) in the Krebs Cycle is inhibited by malonate. The results indicate that malonate can inhibit succinate and possibly, glutamate.

            Keywords: Krebs Cycle, malonate, pyruvate, succinate, malate, glutamate, fumarate

Introduction

            The Krebs Cycle, also known as the Citric Acid Cycle is an integral process among aerobic organisms because this is where adenosine triphosphate (ATP) the organism’s source of energy. Without the ATP, organ development and growth will be difficult. Moreover, the disruption of the Krebs Cycle can lead to the disruption in the functioning of the entire organism as “the Krebs Cycle is not only part of the pathway for the breakdown of glucose but also for the breakdown of all metabolites, including other sugars, amino acids and fatty acids” (“The Krebs Cycle,” 2015). Products of other metabolic processes such as glycolysis and the beta oxidation pathway typically leads into the Krebs Cycle, and in the same way, the metabolites in the Kreb Cycle can be used to synthesize intermediates to another biological process.

 Because there are many ways to enter the Krebs Cycle, there is a huge possibility that poisonous metabolites can actually disrupt the process. Of particular attention is malonate which is used as “a carbon source by a variety of bacteria” (Suvorova, Ravcheev, & Gelfand, 2012). Previous researches show that when malonate is found in any organ, that organ’s metabolism grinds to a halt &ndas...