ATP Generation from a Fatty Acid

Question 1

How many cycles of beta-oxidation are required to fully break down lauric acid (C12) into acetyl CoA?

Answer 1

Lauric Acid = 12 carbons = 6 Acetyl CoA

= 5 B-ox cycles

Question 2

How many acetyl CoA units are produced from lauric acid via beta-oxidation in total?

Answer 2

Lauric Acid = 12 carbons = 6 Acetyl CoA

Question 3

How many NADH and FADH2 (electron-rich coenzymes) are produced in each beta-oxidation cycle?

Answer 3

Each beta-oxidation cycle produces 1 NADH (step 1) and 1 FADH2 (step 3)

Question 4

How many NADH and FADH2 (electron-rich coenzymes) are produced in total from the beta-oxidation cycles needed to convert lauric acid (C12) in many units of acetyl CoA?

Answer 4

5 beta-oxidation cycles are required to completely breakdown lauric acid.

5 NADH (step 1) and 5 FADH2 (step 3) are generated. (one each for each cycle)

Question 5

How many NADH and FADH2 (electron-rich coenzymes) are produced in the CAC from a single acetyl CoA (made in beta-oxidation)?

Answer 5

Each acetyl CoA allows one cycle of the CAC to be completed, which creates 3 NADH and 1 FADH2

Question 6

How many NADH and FADH2 (electron-rich coenzymes) are produced from six acetyl CoA (produce in beta-oxidation) via the citric acid cycle?

Answer 6

One Acetyle CoA = one cycle producing 3 NADH and 1 FADH2.

6 Acetyl CoA = 18 NADH and 6 FADH2

Question 7

How many ATP are produced from the electron-rich coenzymes (via the ETC/OP) in the following process:

i) The beta-oxidation cycles needed to convert lauric acid (C12) into many units of acetyl CoA

Answer 7

5 NADH x 2.5 ATP = 12.5 ATP
5 FADH2 x 1.5 ATP = 7.5 ATP
Total = 20 ATP

Question 8

How many ATP are produced from the electron-rich coenzymes (via the ETC/OP) in the following process:

ii) The citric acid cycles used to break down multiple acetyl CoA (from beta-oxidation).

Answer 8

18 NADH x 2.5 ATP = 45 ATP
6 FADH2 x 1.5 ATP = 9 ATP
Total = 54 ATP

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Question 9

Two ATP are needed to activate the fatty acid (forms acyl CoA) prior to beta-oxidation. How many ATP are produced in the complete breakdown of Lauric
acid (C12)?

Hint: add up the relevant values calculate in g and h and use the information about the number of ATP used for fatty acid activation

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Answer 9

6 acetyl coA = 5 cycles = 50 ATP
5 NADH x 2.5 = 12.5
5 FADH2 x 1.5 = 7.5
= 70
minus 2 = 68

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