{"id":224839,"date":"2025-06-03T14:10:38","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T14:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learnexams.com\/blog\/?p=224839"},"modified":"2025-06-03T14:10:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T14:10:40","slug":"which-statement-best-describes-the-oxidation-of-odd-chain-fatty-acids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/03\/which-statement-best-describes-the-oxidation-of-odd-chain-fatty-acids\/","title":{"rendered":"Which statement best describes the oxidation of odd-chain fatty acids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Which statement best describes the oxidation of odd-chain fatty acids? The end products of the last cycle are propionyl CoA and Acetyl-CoA. One carbon is removed in one cycle. Hydroxy-fatty acids are produced. Additional specific enzymes are needed for the oxidation process compared to the process of oxidation of even-chain fatty acids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Correct Answer:<\/strong>
The end products of the last cycle are propionyl CoA and Acetyl-CoA.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explanation<\/strong>
Fatty acid oxidation, specifically \u03b2-oxidation<\/strong>, is the process by which fatty acids are broken down in the mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA, NADH, and FADH\u2082. This process differs slightly between even-chain<\/strong> and odd-chain fatty acids<\/strong>. While even-chain fatty acids are entirely converted into acetyl-CoA<\/strong> units, odd-chain fatty acids undergo a similar process with one key difference in the final step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During \u03b2-oxidation of odd-chain fatty acids<\/strong>, the process removes two-carbon units<\/strong> as acetyl-CoA in successive cycles, just like even-chain fatty acids. However, because the number of carbon atoms is odd, the final cycle cannot yield two acetyl-CoA molecules. Instead, it produces one molecule of acetyl-CoA<\/strong> (2-carbon) and one molecule of propionyl-CoA<\/strong> (3-carbon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Propionyl-CoA is then metabolized via a specialized pathway that converts it into succinyl-CoA<\/strong>, an intermediate of the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle). This conversion requires biotin and vitamin B12<\/strong> and involves a few additional enzymes, including propionyl-CoA carboxylase<\/strong>, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase<\/strong>, and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other options in the question are incorrect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n