Question

Why do fatty acids bond with carnitine prior to beta-oxidation?

a	Carnitine is oxidized in beta-oxidation reactions to generate acetyl-CoA and reducing power.

b	Fatty acyl-carnitine can be transported across the inner mitochondrial membrane while fatty acyl-CoA cannot.

c	Fatty acyl-carnitine is used in the beta-oxidation reactions.

Answer 1

Answer: b) Fatty acyl-carnitine can be transported across the inner mitochondrial membrane while fatty acyl-CoA cannot.

Before entering to mitochondria fatty acids must be activated, where fatty acid oxidation starts. The inner mitochondrial membrane will not allow fatty acids and a specialized carnitine carrier system required to transport activated fatty acids from cytosol to mitochondria. Once activated, the acyl CoA is transported into the mitochondrial matrix.

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