Page 136 - The Manga Guide to Biochemistry

The β-oxidation cycle is repeated seven times to make eight molecules of
acetyl-CoA!
Right, and since they’re already in the mitochondrion, they can directly enter the
citric acid cycle there to create ATP.

So when you’re burning fat and dieting, this crazy process is breaking down fatty
acids inside your body. Wow!

Earlier, I told you how palmitic acid is produced from malonyl-CoA during fatty acid
synthesis. When this palmitic acid is broken down, a total of 129 molecules of ATP
are produced through the TCA cycle and electron transport chain.

Wait...if I remember correctly, weren’t 38 molecules of ATP the most that could be
created from 1 molecule of glucose? 129 is an awful lot, isn’t it?

Glucose
(saccharide)

Palmitic acid
(fatty acid)

Yup, that’s true. Fatty acid is a very efficient storage material.

Hmmm. That must be why it takes so much energy to burn it away! Biochemically
speaking, dieting is a lot of work...

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