Question

The oxidation of an unsaturated fatty acid leads to the production of fewer ATPs than a saturated fatty acid with the same number of carbons because ____ A) the oxidation of the fatty acid stops when it reaches the double bond B) unsaturated fatty acids cannot be metabolized C) the double bond results in the bypassing of the first oxidation step of the pathway, thereby eliminating one FADH2 product

Answer 1

C) the double bond results in the bypassing of the first oxidation step of the pathway, thereby eliminating one FADH2 product

Step-by-step explanation:

The beta oxidation of fatty acids is the process by which long chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are oxidized to the two-carbon product, acetylCoA.

The beta oxudation of fatty acids occurs in four steps after which the chain length is shortened by 2 with cleavage of an acetylCoA molecule.

The first step involves the oxidation of the fatty acid with introduction of a double bond between C-2 and C-3 of the long carbon chain. This reaction produces FADH2 which donates its electrons to electron carriers in the electron transport chain tomproduce 1.5 moles of ATP. This is the case with saturated fatty acids.

However, in unsaturated fatty acids (which are less reduced than saturated fatty acids) where there is already a double bond innthe molecule, the double bond results in the bypassing of the first oxidation step of the pathway, thereby eliminating one FADH2 product.

This causes a reduction In the number of ATP produced by unsaturated fatty acids when compared to saturated fatty acids.