Question

This question has multiple parts. Work all the parts to get the most points.

You hear a fellow student say that the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids requires exactly the same group of enzymes as the oxidation of saturated fatty acids. Is this statement true or false?
_______true/false
Why?
A) Unsaturated fatty acids are metabolized by an entirely different pathway as compared to saturated fatty acids.
B) An oxidoreductase enzyme is required to convert the C=C double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids to single bonds prior to entry into the beta-oxidation cycle.
C) The oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids requires a cis-trans isomerization and epimerization, which require enzymes not needed for the oxidation of saturated fatty acids.
D) The reactions of beta-oxidation are mediated by the same enzymes no matter what the feedstock molecule is.

Answer 1

The student's statement was not true; the enzyme requires for oxidation of saturated fatty acid and that of unsaturated fatty acid are different; Option C

Step-by-step explanation:

Both the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid will one way or the other undergo the double bond stage C=C with the dehydrogenase enzyme. The beta oxidation of unsaturated fatty acid will continue to be similar to that of the saturated fatty acid until the double bond carbons are reached. This double bond need to be converted to the trans conformation by the aid of cis-Δ3-Enoyl CoA isomerase enzyme through the process of isomerization and epimerization, which will never occur in a saturated fatty acid. This is the only difference in the enzyme required for beta oxidation of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.