Beta oxidation of a 12 carbon fatty acid produces 6 molecule

Beta oxidation of a 12 carbon fatty acid produces 6 molecules of Acetyl-CoA, 5 NADH, and 5 FADH2. How many molecules of ATP will be produced, from beta oxidation of this fatty acid?

Solution

Answer:

In the beta oxidation process:

1 NADH produces 3 ATP (actually 2.5 but theoretically considered as 3), therefore 5 NADH will produce = 5*3 = 15 ATP

1 FADH2 produces 2 ATP (actually 1.5ATP but theoretically considered as 2), therefore 5 FADH2 will produce = 5*2 = 10 ATP

Acetyl-CoA enters TCA cycle where 1 Acetyl-CoA produces 12 ATP (actually 10 but theoretically considered as 12), therefore 6 Aceyl-CoA will produce = 6*12 = 72 ATP

2 ATP are consumed for activation of a fatty acid = -2 ATP

Therefore total ATP molecules produced = 15+10+72-2 = 95 ATP molecules