Question

1. Calculate the maximum number of ATPs generated from the complete oxidation of the following fatty acid: 14:3(∆6trans,9cis,12cis) to CO2. Be sure to account for all aspects of the pathways of catabolism of this fatty acid which lead to ATP production

Answer 1

112

Oxidationof of fatty acid yields 6 NADH + 6 FADH2 + 7 acetyl-CoA in 6 cycles of mitochondrial beta oxidation. Every acetyl-CoA yields 3 NADH + 1 FADH2 + 1 GTP (=ATP) during Krebs cycle. Considering an average production of 3 ATP/NADH and 2 ATP/FADH2 using the respiratory chain, you have 114 ATP molecules. However you have to used 2 ATP molecules for the initial activation of every fatty acid that is going to be oxidized in the mitochondria. So total 112 ATP is produced.