Question

The carbon backbone reactions of β-oxidation consists of a sequence of 4 reactions that result in shortening of the fatty acid chain by two carbons. What are the steps involved in this sequence?

Answer 1

The carbon backbone reactions of β-oxidation consist of four steps: activation of fatty acids, formation of α-β unsaturated acyl-CoA, formation of β-hydroxy acyl-CoA, and formation of β-keto acyl-CoA.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. Activation of fatty acids: The fatty acid is activated by attaching Coenzyme A (CoA) to form acyl-CoA.
2. Formation of α-β unsaturated acyl-CoA (Enoyl-CoA): In this step, a double bond is formed between the α and β carbons of the acyl-CoA.
3. Formation of β-hydroxy acyl-CoA: A molecule of water is added to the β-carbon, resulting in the formation of a hydroxyl group.
4. Formation of β-keto acyl-CoA: The hydroxyl group is oxidized, and the β-ketoacyl-CoA is formed.