What is the energy carrier molecule generated from succinyl-CoA?

The energy carrier molecule generated from succinyl-CoA during the citric acid cycle is GTP. This is produced in a specific reaction where succinyl-CoA is converted to succinate. In this reaction, the high-energy thioester bond of succinyl-CoA is broken, which provides the necessary energy to phosphorylate GDP (guanosine diphosphate) to GTP (guanosine triphosphate). This step is significant because GTP can readily be converted to ATP through the action of nucleoside diphosphate kinase. The ability to generate a high-energy phosphate bond at this point in the cycle is crucial for efficient energy metabolism, highlighting the importance of succinyl-CoA as an intermediate in the citric acid cycle.