Biological Chemistry - Berezov T. T., Korovkin B. F. 1998

Lipid Metabolism
Fatty Acid Oxidation
Oxidation of Fatty Acids with an Odd Number of Carbon Atoms

As noted, the bulk of natural Lipids contain Fatty acids with an even number of carbon atoms. However, the lipids of many plants and some marine organisms contain fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms. In addition, during carbohydrate Digestion IN THE rumen of ruminants, a large amount of propionic acid is formed, which contains three carbon atoms. Propionate is absorbed into the bloodstream and oxidized in The Liver and other Tissues. It has been established that fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms are oxidized in the same manner as those with an even number, with the sole difference that The final stage of Cleavage (ß-Oxidation) yields one molecule of propionyl-CoA and one molecule of acetyl-CoA, rather than 2 molecules of acetyl-CoA.

* The ß-Oxidation of Fatty acids containing two or more double bonds requires an additional enzyme, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA epimerase.

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Fig. 11.3. Stages of oleic acid ß-oxidation.

The activated three-carbon fragment, propionyl-CoA, enters The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle after being converted into succinyl-CoA.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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