The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle or TCA cycle, is the final pathway for the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It occurs in the mitochondria and plays a central role in energy production, gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis, and amino acid conversion. Defects in the enzymes of the TCA cycle have been linked to severe neurological diseases due to impaired ATP production. The cycle generates ATP, NADH, FADH2, and GTP through a series of 8 reactions that oxidize acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.