Question

During complete oxidation of the fatty acid CH3(CH2)14COOH, ________ molecules of acetyl-CoA are produced, and the fatty acid goes through the β-oxidation cycle ________ times

Answer 1

Answer:

During complete oxidation of the fatty acid CH3(CH2)14COOH, eight molecules of acetyl-CoA are produced, and the fatty acid goes through the β-oxidation cycle seven times.

Explanation:

In the β-oxidation of fatty acids, an acetyl-CoA molecule is removed from the fatty acid chain after every β-oxidation cycle that the fatty acid undergo, leaving behind a fatty acyl-CoA molecule shortened by two cabon atoms..

The removal of the acetyl-CoA molecule starts from the carboxyl end and shortens the fatty acid molecule by two carbon units. Successive β-oxidation cycles results in the complete oxidaton of the fatty acid molecle to acetyl -CoA molecules.

The compound CH3(CH2)14COOH, is a 16-carbon saturated fatty acid molecule known as palmitic acid.. It undergoes seven passes through the β-oxidation cycle to yield eight molecules of acetyl-CoA with each cycle yielding an acetyl-CoA molecule and a fatty acyl-CoA shortened by two carbon atoms. Finally, the seventh step yields two acetyl-CoA molecules.