In the Krebs cycle, fumaric acid is converted into which acid?

In the Krebs cycle, the conversion of fumaric acid occurs through a series of enzymatic reactions. Fumaric acid is specifically converted into succinic acid through the action of the enzyme fumarase. This reaction involves the addition of a water molecule (hydrolysis) to fumaric acid, effectively transforming it into succinic acid.

Understanding this transformation is crucial, as it plays a key role in the overall energy-producing process of the Krebs cycle, vital for cellular respiration. Each compound in this cycle is interconnected, and the correct identification of these reactions helps highlight the importance of each step in the metabolic pathway.

The other acids mentioned are part of the cycle, but they do not represent the direct conversion from fumaric acid. For instance, citric acid is produced earlier in the cycle from the combination of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid, while malic acid is formed from the conversion of fumaric acid into succinic acid before being further processed into oxaloacetic acid. Hence, succinic acid is the correct answer in the context of this specific conversion process.