Final answer:
Fats are composed of fatty acids and glycerol, both of which can be metabolized for the production of ATP. Lipolysis breaks down triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fats are composed of fatty acids and glycerol, which can both be metabolized for the production of ATP. When fats are broken down in a process called lipolysis, triglycerides are hydrolyzed into their two main components: fatty acids and glycerol. The fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation and are converted into acetyl CoA, which enters the Krebs cycle and produces ATP.
The glycerol released from lipolysis can be phosphorylated to form dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), which can enter the glycolytic pathway or be used for gluconeogenesis.
Fatty acids are converted into acetyl CoA and used in the Krebs cycle to produce ATP, while glycerol can be used for glycolysis or gluconeogenesis.