Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, Volume 1 - Murray R. 1993

Bioenergetics and Metabolism of Carbohydrates and Lipids
Oxidation and Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids
Introduction

Fatty acids are oxidized to acetyl-CoA and, at the same time, are synthesized from this compound. Although the starting material of one process is identical to the end product of the other, and the chemical steps of these two processes are comparable, the Biosynthesis of Fatty acids is by no means simply the reverse of their oxidation. The Oxidation of Fatty acids takes place in the Cell/35.html">Mitochondria. Each step is catalyzed by a specific enzyme and involves an acyl-CoA derivative, with the Coenzymes NAD and FAD participating in the process; ATP is generated As a result of Fatty acid oxidation. In contrast, The biosynthesis of fatty acids (Lipogenesis) occurs in the Cytosol, involving acyl derivatives permanently bound to a multienzyme complex, with NADP functioning as the coenzyme; ATP and bicarbonate ions are required for the process.



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