Question

Which short-chain fatty acid is a major energy source of the epithelial cells of the colon?

a) Acetate
b) Butyrate
c) Propionate
d) Valerate

Answer 1

Butyrate (b) is the short-chain fatty acid that serves as a major energy source for the epithelial cells of the colon.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major energy source for the epithelial cells of the colon is butyrate (b), which is a short-chain fatty acid. Butyrate is produced by the bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers in the large intestine and plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of the colonic epithelium. More Contextual Information is given below:

• Villi, associated with lacteals (b), are small, finger-like projections that line the small intestine and function in nutrient absorption.
• Among fermentation products, penicillin (D) is a product of fungal synthesis and not a direct product of fermentation.
• The cecum (a) is the part of the large intestine that attaches to the appendix.
• The ester formed from the reaction of butyric acid with 2-propanol would have a Lewis structure reflecting the ester linkage between the acid's carboxyl group and the alcohol's hydroxyl group.