Question

If one mole of stearate undergoes complete beta-oxidation, it will produce:

A) 8 moles of acetyl-CoA, 7 moles of NADH, and 7 moles of FADH₂.
B) 16 moles of acetyl-CoA, 8 moles of NADH, and 8 moles of FADH₂.
C) 7 moles of acetyl-CoA, 7 moles of NADH, and 8 moles of FADH₂.
D) 8 moles of acetyl-CoA, 8 moles of NADH, and 7 moles of FADH₂.
Please select the correct option.

Answer 1

B) 16 moles of acetyl-CoA, 8 moles of NADH, and 8 moles of FADH₂.

Complete beta-oxidation of one mole of stearate, which is an 18-carbon fatty acid, results in the production of 16 moles of acetyl-CoA, 8 moles of NADH, and 8 moles of FADH₂.

Step-by-step explanation:

When stearate, which is an 18-carbon fatty acid, undergoes complete beta-oxidation, it will produce 9 moles of acetyl-CoA. This is because the number of beta-oxidation cycles that stearate undergoes is 18/2 - 1, which is 8 cycles.

However, the last cycle produces two moles of acetyl-CoA, bringing the total to 9 moles. In each cycle, 1 mole of NADH and 1 mole of FADH₂ are generated.

Therefore, 8 moles of NADH and 8 moles of FADH₂ would be produced during 8 cycles of beta-oxidation.

Thus, the correct option is B) 16 moles of acetyl-CoA, 8 moles of NADH, and 8 moles of FADH₂.