Once a jolly pyruvate enters the matrix
Of a mitochondrion, so they say,
A decarboxylating, complex dehydrogenase
Converts it to acetyl coenzyme A
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the TCA cycle today,
A decarboxylating, complex dehydrogenase
Turns pyruvate to acetyl CoA
Oxaloacetate looking for a partner
Thinks "active acetate" looks OK,
Condensing enzyme arranging a merger
Makes a new citrate, and kicks out CoA.
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the TCA cycle today,
Condensing enzyme arranges a merger
Makes a new citrate, and kicks out CoA.
Along comes aconitase, a hydro-dehydrogenase,
Gives isocitrate reversibly,
Then its dehydrogenase gives NADH,
Carbon dioxide and alpha-KG.
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the TCA cycle today,
Then its dehydrogenase gives NADH,
Carbon dioxide and alpha-KG.
Off with the CO2, another oxidation
Just like the PDH previously.
Succinyl CoA with a thiokinase
Yields succinate and GTP.
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the TCA cycle today,
Succinyl CoA with a thiokinase
Yields succinate and GTP.
Succinate's oxidized by its dehydrogenase
Reducing FAD, giving fumarate;
Fumarase makes malate; another dehydrogenase
Generates oxaloacetate.
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the cycle,
Waltz around the TCA cycle today,
Fumarase makes malate; another dehydrogenase
Generates oxaloacetate.
