The word "krebs" is often misspelled due to its unusual letter combination. It is pronounced /krɛbz/ and refers to the surname of the German biochemist who discovered the Krebs cycle of metabolism, Sir Hans Adolf Krebs. Although it may seem counterintuitive, the "b" in "krebs" is pronounced like a "p." This is because the letter "b" following "r" is often pronounced as a voiceless bilabial plosive sound in English phonetics. Therefore, the correct spelling of this word should not be confused with the word "crabs."
Krebs, commonly referred to as the Krebs cycle or the citric acid cycle, is a vital metabolic pathway found in most living organisms. Named after its discoverer, Hans Krebs, this cycle is an essential part of cellular respiration, occurring within the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. It is the second stage of aerobic cellular respiration, following glycolysis.
Krebs cycle is responsible for extracting energy-rich molecules, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins by breaking them down further. It involves a series of chemical reactions that result in the complete oxidation of acetyl-CoA, a molecule derived from many different nutrients.
During each turn of the Krebs cycle, acetyl-CoA is combined with a four-carbon molecule, oxaloacetate, to form a six-carbon molecule called citrate, starting a series of reactions that generate high-energy electrons. Through a series of intermediates, these high-energy electrons are transferred to electron carriers, such as NADH and FADH2, which play crucial roles in oxidative phosphorylation, the final stage of cellular respiration.
The Krebs cycle serves not only as an energy-producing pathway but also as a supplier of building blocks for anabolism, including amino acids and nucleotides. Additionally, it contributes to detoxification processes by producing precursors for the synthesis of various molecules. Overall, the Krebs cycle is a fundamental process that enables the efficient conversion of nutrients into usable energy and necessary biological building blocks within cells.
The word "krebs" has different etymologies depending on the context.
In German, "Krebs" means "crab" and its etymology can be traced back to the Old High German word "krebiz", which has West Germanic origins. The word "krebiz" shares its roots with other Germanic languages, like Old Norse "krabbi" and Middle Dutch "crabbe".
However, "krebs" can also refer to a surname of German origin. In this case, its etymology is derived from the Middle High German word "kreb(e)s" meaning "crab" or "cancer". The surname was often given to people who had a physical or behavioral attribute associated with a crab (e.g., walking sideways, grasping things tightly).