Matter cannot be generated or destroyed, according to the Law of Conservation of Matter. Because the same carbon atoms are recycled throughout the carbon cycle, it is an illustration of the Law.
The substrate of the citric acid cycle which can block respiration when it is present in excess is MALONATE. Malonate inhibits respiration by competing with succinate dehydrogenase for its acitve site. Malonate binds to the active site without reacting, thus competing with succinate. This disrupts the cellular respiration in the cell.
