Chapter 12, Problem 12.65EP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: To identify the location in the mitochondria where seven out of the eight reactions of the citric acid cycle take place.

Concept introduction: Citric acid cycle includes the reactions in which the acetyl part of acetyl CoA is oxidized and leads to the formation of carbon dioxide and $\text{CoA-SH}$. Carbon dioxide produced is exhaled out in the breathing process. The reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH₂) is also produced. An overview of the citric acid cycle is as follows:

Mitochondrion consists of an outer and inner membrane. The inner membrane has multifold and is highly impermeable and selective for some substance. The outer membrane is not multifolded and is not highly impermeable like an inner membrane.

The highly selective nature of inner membrane causes the mitochondrion to divide into two compartments: matrix and inner membrane space.