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Multiple Choice
Where does the Krebs cycle occur within a eukaryotic cell?
A
Nucleus
B
Cytoplasm
C
Endoplasmic reticulum
D
Mitochondrial matrix
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle) as a key metabolic pathway that generates energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Step 2: Recall that eukaryotic cells have specialized organelles called mitochondria, which are responsible for energy production. The mitochondria consist of an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and a central space called the mitochondrial matrix.
Step 3: Learn that the enzymes and molecules required for the Krebs cycle are located within the mitochondrial matrix, making it the site where the cycle occurs.
Step 4: Eliminate the incorrect options: The nucleus is involved in genetic material storage and transcription, the cytoplasm is where glycolysis occurs, and the endoplasmic reticulum is involved in protein and lipid synthesis, not energy production.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is the mitochondrial matrix, as it is the specific location where the Krebs cycle takes place in eukaryotic cells.