Biochemical Processes in Fatty Acid Metabolism

These flashcards are created to help review key concepts related to fatty acid metabolism, including degradation, synthesis, and cholesterol metabolism.

A diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids provides fewer calories than a diet rich in saturated fatty acids because __________.

Saturated fatty acids are more reduced and generate more ATP upon oxidation.

The input of energy by __________ is required to reduce cis double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids.

NADPH

Ketone bodies are synthesized from __________ when carbohydrate availability is low.

Acetyl-CoA from fatty acids

Fatty acid degradation occurs in the __________, while fatty acid synthesis occurs in the __________.

mitochondrial matrix; cytosol

In fatty acid degradation, the acyl carrier is __________, whereas in synthesis it is __________.

coenzyme A; acyl-carrier protein

The cofactors involved in fatty acid degradation are ubiquinone and NAD+, which are converted to __________ and __________, respectively.

ubiquinol; NADH

Fatty acid degradation requires __________ ATP equivalents to activate the fatty acid.

two

The inhibitor __________ inhibits acetyl-CoA carboxylase and acyl carnitine transferase.

malonyl-CoA

Citrate activates acetyl-CoA carboxylase since it provides __________ as a source of acetyl-CoA.

citrate in the cytoplasm

Mice deficient in acetyl-CoA carboxylase store less fat because they are unable to synthesize __________.

malonyl-CoA

Cholesterol has four metabolic fates: Incorporation into cell membranes, acylation to cholesteryl ester, precursor of steroid hormones, and __________.

precursor of bile acids.