Final answer:
Beta-oxidation is the metabolic process involving the breakdown of fatty acids into acetyl CoA, which then enters the citric acid cycle to produce ATP.
Step-by-step explanation:
Beta-oxidation is the breakdown of fatty acids. This metabolic process starts in the cytoplasm where fatty acids are turned into fatty acyl CoA molecules. These molecules then enter mitochondria and undergo a series of reactions, which transform them into acetyl CoA. Inside the mitochondrion, each cycle of beta-oxidation shortens the fatty acyl CoA by two carbon atoms, releasing acetyl CoA which then enters the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle). As a result, ATP is generated through oxidative phosphorylation, providing energy for the cell.
Notably, beta-oxidation is distinct from processes such as lipogenesis, which is the synthesis of fatty acids, and does not occur as part of glycolysis or the citric acid cycle directly. However, the end products of beta-oxidation (acetyl CoA molecules) do feed into the Krebs cycle, an integral part of cellular respiration.