Question

1.) TRUE/FALSE: Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an odd number of carbon atoms. The pathway for catabolism of fatty acids is referred to as the ?-oxidation pathway, because oxidation occurs at the ?-carbon (C-3). The fatty acids can be oxidized by ?-oxidation and converted into acetyl-CoA.

(a) Compare similarity and difference between fats and carbohydrates as they can both function as fuel storage

(b)Explain how glycerol hydrolyzed from triacylglycerols can be oxidized and enter glycolysis (how many steps reactions, what are those products? Etc.).

(c)For oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA, how many total acetyl-CoA, NADH, and FADH2 are produced?

Answer 1

Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an odd number of carbon atoms. FALSE

The pathway for catabolism of fatty acids is referred to as the ?-oxidation pathway because oxidation occurs at the ?-carbon (C-3). TRUE

The fatty acids can be oxidized by ?-oxidation and converted into acetyl-CoA. TRUE

Fats are hydrophobic compounds that are highly reduced form of energy. They include triacyl glycerol, phospholipids, and glycolipids. They are oxidized via ?-oxidation and converted into acetyl-CoA.

Carbohydrates are hydrophilic compounds that can be immediately metabolized. They include monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Glycerol:

i. Glycerol is converted to glycerol-3-phosphate by glycerol kinase.

ii. Glycerol-3-phosphate is converted to DHAP by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

iii. DHAP is converted to G-3-P by triosephosphate isomerase.