6.5.4 Oxidation of a fatty acid with an odd number of carbon atoms

6.5.4 Oxidation of a fatty acid with an odd Number of carbon atoms

Oxidation of a fatty acid with an odd number of carbon atoms yields acetyl- CoA plus a molecule of propionyl- CoA. Fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms are oxidized by the pathway of beta oxidation, producing acetyl-CoA until a three- carbon (propionyl-CoA) residue remains. This compound is converted to succinyl-CoA, a constituent of the citric acid cycle and metabolised. The conversion involves three enzymes.

1. The first reaction is catalysed by propionyl-CoA carboxylase, requires bitoin prosthetic group and ATP which is converted to ADP+Pi.

2. The S-methyl-CoA formed is converted to (R)methyl malonyl-CoA by methyl malonyl-CoA racemace.

3. (R)methyl malonyl-CoA is converted to Succinyl CoA by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Oxidation of a fatty acid with an odd Number of carbon atoms

Last modified: Tuesday, 24 January 2012, 11:02 AM