In what form is energy primarily produced during the Citric Acid Cycle?

During the Citric Acid Cycle, energy is primarily produced in the form of NADH and FADH2. These molecules are critical electron carriers that capture energy released during the oxidation of acetyl-CoA, which enters the cycle after glycolysis. As the cycle progresses through a series of enzymatic reactions, NAD+ and FAD are reduced to NADH and FADH2, respectively.

NADH and FADH2 play an essential role in cellular respiration by shuttling electrons to the electron transport chain, where their energy is ultimately used to generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Although ATP is produced directly during the Citric Acid Cycle, in smaller amounts, the bulk of the energy captured is in the form of NADH and FADH2. This highlights the importance of these coenzymes in the cycle, as they represent the key energy carriers that facilitate the conversion of chemical energy from nutrients into a more usable form for the cell.