The complete oxidation of one palmitate molecule, a 16-carbon fatty acid, generates 129 ATP molecules through fatty acid oxidation.
Understanding ATP Production in Fatty Acid Oxidation
Fatty acid oxidation, also known as beta-oxidation, is a catabolic process that breaks down fatty acids into acetyl-CoA, which then enters the citric acid cycle (also known as the TCA cycle). This process also generates NADH and FADH2, which are electron carriers used in the electron transport chain (ETC) to produce ATP.
Here's a breakdown of ATP production:
- Beta Oxidation: Fatty acids are broken down into acetyl-CoA, NADH, and FADH2.
- TCA Cycle: Acetyl-CoA enters the TCA cycle, generating more NADH and FADH2, along with GTP (which is equivalent to ATP).
- Electron Transport Chain: The NADH and FADH2 produced by both beta-oxidation and the TCA cycle are then used by the mitochondrial electron transport chain to produce ATP.
The reference states that one palmitate molecule (a 16-carbon fatty acid) generates 129 ATP. This is the total ATP produced after accounting for all the processes mentioned.
Example: Palmitate Oxidation
- Input: 1 Palmitate molecule (16 carbons)
- Output:
- 8 Acetyl-CoA (enters TCA cycle)
- 7 NADH (enters ETC)
- 7 FADH2 (enters ETC)
- Total ATP Production: A total of 129 ATP molecules are produced through this process.
Summary
| Process | ATP Production |
|---|---|
| Fatty Acid Oxidation | Acetyl-CoA, NADH, FADH2 |
| TCA Cycle | NADH, FADH2, GTP (ATP) |
| Electron Transport Chain | ATP |
The total number of ATP molecules produced during the oxidation of a fatty acid depends on the length of its carbon chain. The example given shows a total of 129 ATP for a 16-carbon fatty acid (palmitate). This accounts for the ATP produced through the electron transport chain from NADH and FADH2 produced during beta-oxidation and the TCA cycle.
