Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Fatty Acyl CoA
Fatty acyl CoA is a fatty acid that has been activated by the addition of coenzyme A (CoA). This activation is crucial for the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they undergo β-oxidation. The formation of fatty acyl CoA is catalyzed by the enzyme acyl-CoA synthetase, which converts free fatty acids into their CoA derivatives, making them ready for metabolic processes.
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β-Oxidation
β-Oxidation is the metabolic process by which fatty acids are broken down in the mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA, NADH, and FADH2. This process involves a series of enzymatic reactions that sequentially remove two-carbon units from the fatty acid chain. For lauric acid, which has 12 carbon atoms, β-oxidation will yield six acetyl-CoA molecules, which can then enter the citric acid cycle for energy production.
Saturated Fatty Acids
Saturated fatty acids are fatty acids that contain no double bonds between carbon atoms, meaning they are fully 'saturated' with hydrogen atoms. Lauric acid, with the chemical formula C12H24O2, is a typical example of a saturated fatty acid. These fatty acids are typically solid at room temperature and are found in high concentrations in animal fats and certain plant oils, such as coconut oil.
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