Question

Both fatty acid oxidation and glycolysis lead to the formation of significant amounts of ATP. Explain why a cell preparation containing all of the enzymes required for either pathway can't generate ATP when a fatty acid and glucose is added unless a small amount of ATP is also added to the preparation. Be specific.

Answer 1

Solution

• Fatty acid synthesis is the creation of fatty acids from acetyl-CoA and NADPH through the action of enzymes called fatty acid synthases.
• This process takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. Most of the acetyl-CoA which is converted into fatty acids is derived from carbohydrates via the process of glycolytic pathway.
• So if glycolytic enzyme are not present in cell than ActylCoA is not get synthesized so fatty acid will not formed so no fatty acid oxidation carry out.
• So fatty acid synthesis ia depend upon glycolytic pathway.
• ATP concentration and fatty acid synthesis are coordinated by glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation.
• When more ATP produced by glycolysis then Acetyl CoA will produce more so it make more fatty acids.
• If glycolysis is not working due to less glucose then fatty acid oxidation starts to fullfill need of ATP for cell.