Page 329 - Biochemistry PharmD General
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Beta oxidation
• Fatty acids are degraded in the catabolic process
called beta oxidation. During beta oxidation, the third
(or beta) carbon of the saturated fatty acid chain of
the fatty acyl CoA is oxidized to a ketone.
• Beta oxidation is a spiral pathway. Each round consists
of four enzyme-catalyzed steps that yield one molecule
of acetyl CoA and an acyl CoA shortened by two
carbons, which becomes the starting substrate for the
next round. Seven rounds of beta oxidation degrade a
C16 fatty acid to eight molecules of acetyl CoA.
• Complete oxidation of one molecule of palmitic acid to
carbon dioxide and water yields 129 molecules of ATP.
One round of beta oxidation yields 17 ATP. 328
