Citrate is produced in the Krebs cycle from oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA by citrate synthase (CS). It can be exported from the mitochondria through citrate carrier (CIC). Cytosolic citrate is broken down by ACLY to oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA can be used as a substrate for fatty acid synthesis.

Where is citrate found?

Citrate is the most abundant organic anion found in the urine, and is the primary chelator of calcium, preventing nephrolithiasis by inhibiting nucleation, crystal growth, and agglomeration (reviewed in Pajor 1999, Hamm & Hering-Smith 2002).

How is citric acid produced?

Production of Citric Acid

It is an organic carboxylic acid and can be extracted from the juice of citrus fruits by adding calcium oxide to form calcium citrate, which is an insoluble precipitate that can be collected by filtration; the citric acid can be recovered from its calcium salt by adding sulfuric acid.