Question

A 14 carbon fatty acid that goes through the fatty acid spiral will net how much energy, measured in ATP?

Answer 1

Answer:

94 ATP molecules

Explanation:

To answer the question we need to understand the beta oxidation of fatty acid.

1. First we need to know each electron carrier produces different number of ATP molecules in the electron transport chain.

• That is, FADH₂ yields 1.5 ATP while NADH yields 2.5 ATP molecules
• Additionally, for every acetyl coA, 10 ATP molecules are produced.

What happens during oxidation of a fatty acid with even number of carbon, C₂ₙ?

• During beta oxidation of an even number fatty acid, C₂ₙ, n-1 FADH₂, n-1 NADH and n acetyl coA molecules are produced.
• Therefore, for a fatty acid with 14 carbons, then 6 molecules of FADH₂, 6 molecules of NADH and 7 acetyl coA are produced.

• Therefore, the number of ATP molecules will be;

From; 6 FADH₂ = 6 × 1.5 = 9 ATP

          6 NADH;   6 × 2.5 = 15 ATP

7 Acetly CoA ; 7 × 10 = 70 ATP

This gives a total of 94 ATP molecules

Hence a 14 carbon fatty acid produces 94 ATP molecules after beta oxidation.