In cellular respiration, what is the primary function of the Krebs (citric acid) cycle?

• A. To synthesize acetyl-CoA from fatty acids and store energy primarily as glycogen
• B. To use oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor and pump protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane
• C. To oxidize acetyl-CoA to $C_{\mathrm{O}}2$ while producing reduced electron carriers ($NADH$ and $F_A{H}_2$) and a small amount of $ATP$/$GTP$
• D. To generate most of the cell’s $ATP$ directly by substrate-level phosphorylation of glucose to pyruvate

Answer: (C)