In: Biology
subcellular seperation of biochemical pathways allows the coexistance of two opposing, yet parallel, pathways in the same cell. use fatty acid biosynthesis and fatty acid oxidation to illustrate this point. Indicate the points in which these pathways have parallel, yet opposite effects and include the main regulatory effector.
fatty acid synthesis occurs in cytosol whereas, its oxidation occurs in mitochondria.
fatty acyl coA is the substrate for oxidation. however, it cannot transfer through mitochondrial membrane. it gets converted to fatty acylcarnitine and is transported to mitochondria.
acetyl coA formed in mitochondria acts as substrate for fatty acid synthesis. however, it cannot cross the mitochondrial membrane. hence, it gets converted to malonyl coA to cross the membrane and reach cytosol.
the first image represents fatty oxidation while the second image represents fatty acid synthesis. as you can see, the steps are just opposite in oxidation and synthesis. dehydrogenase reactions in oxidation are opposite to reductase reactions in synthesis. hydratase reaction in oxidation adds water molecule, whereas, in synthesis, it removes water molecule.
fatty acid synthesis mainly occurs in adipose tissue.
glucagon/insulin ration regulates fatty oxidation and synthesis. after conssuming food, the glucagon/insulin ratio is low, which promotes fatty acid synthesis in liver. In the fasting state, the glucagon/insulin ratio is high and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation is increased.