Glenn Wolkenfield - Krebs! lyrics

In the matrix of the mitochondria of all our cells Is the cycle of reactions that won Hans Krebs the Nobel Prize This cycle takes the energy in food And makes it into other forms that your cells can use Krebs Cycle makes the electron carrier NADH Which later brings electrons to the electron transport chain And Krebs makes FADH2 its function is the same Krebs also makes some ATP another claim to fame CHORUS (we're talking) KREBS! It's the Citric Acid Cycle KREBS! Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Krebs– each cycle makes One ATP, three NADH, one FADH2 Right before the cycle's a transitional part Links Krebs to glycolysis, so Krebs can start Enzymes break a CO2 off a Pyruvate Yields an NADH and Acetyl-CoA Acetyl-CoA carries carbons two With all the energy that derives from food It's a highly reduced molecule with energized electrons It fuels up the Krebs cycle as it cycles on Now at the start of Krebs this Acetyl-CoA Has the two carbons it carries in ripped away Enzymes put these on oxaloacetate with carbons four Makes six-carbon citric acid who could ask for more? Notice three carboxyl groups on that citric acid It's why the cycle's also named for Tricarboxylic Acid Or TCA Cycle, if it's acronyms that you prefer Or Krebs in honor of its discoverer! CHORUS Enzymes work on Citric Acid and remove a CO2 And other enzymes modify and oxidize it too The five carbon result is α-Ketoglutarate Krebs cycle, it's so great! Every oxidation, can power the reduction Of NAD plus which gains electron carrying function Becoming NADH, that energy sensation Which later on in respiration powers ATP creation Another oxidation follows, another CO2 removed Leaving us with a four carbon molecule Another NADH results from this oxidation As Krebs does its energy transformations This four carbon molecule (Succinyl CoA) Still has lots of energy, enzymes can take away A series of reactions yield one ATP The cell's main energy currency Leavin' just enough energy for enzymes to reduce An FADH to FADH2 And one last NAD+ will also get reduced As the final ‘lectron carrier NADH gets produced We've harvested what energy came in at Krebs's start Now we have oxaloacetate at this final part Oxaloacetate is the commencement and finale Ready to meet acetyl CoA, and here at the final tally BRIDGE Krebs goes round and round, such an ancient cycle Spinning like the wheels of my bicycle Krebs is like the axle of aerobic respiration I breathe out its CO2 with every exhalation! We've walked through the cycle, so now lets review Input is Acetyl-CoA with carbons two The carbons get removed, releasing CO2 Exhaling sends this CO2 out of you The cycle's function's energy transformation Three NADH, one FADH2 creation And also synthesis of one ATP Which cells directly utilize for energy For every glucose cells absorb the cycle runs two times As long as cells get fuel, Krebs is running just fine It precedes electron transport chain, it follows glycolysis It's spinning round and round in the mitochondrial matrix CHORUS