Question

What are the two sources of acetyl-CoA for fatty acid synthesis?

Answer 1

• acetyl-CoA is produced through glycolysis.
• Pyruvate under goes oxidative decarboxylation in which it loses its carboxyl group to form acetyl-CoA
• The oxidative conversion of pyruvate into acetyl-CoA is referred to as the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction.

• the production of acetyl-CoA is linked to β-oxidation of fatty acids.
• Fatty acids are first converted to acyl-CoA.
• Acyl-CoA is then degraded in a four-step cycle of oxidation, hydration, oxidation and thiolysis
• . The cycle produces a new fatty acid chain with two fewer carbons and acetyl-CoA as a byproduct