Final answer:
Fatty acids that cannot be oxidized via β-oxidation may go through alternative oxidation pathways such as the conversion of propionyl-CoA to Krebs cycle intermediates, ω-oxidation producing dicarboxylic acids, or ketogenesis leading to the formation of ketone bodies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alternate Pathways of Fatty Acid Oxidation
When fatty acids are not readily oxidized by β-oxidation, they can enter alternate pathways. One alternative pathway for the oxidation of fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms is the oxidation of propionyl-CoA, which is produced during the final cycle of β-oxidation. This three-carbon molecule is eventually converted into succinyl-CoA, a Krebs cycle intermediate.
Another pathway is ω-oxidation, which occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. This pathway oxidizes fatty acids at the ω (omega) position, the carbon farthest from the carboxyl group, leading to the formation of dicarboxylic acids.
Additionally, when an excess of acetyl-CoA accumulates, it can lead to the formation of ketone bodies in the liver through the process of ketogenesis. These ketone bodies include acetoacetate, acetone, and 3-hydroxybutyrate, and can serve as alternative energy sources.