The Role of Oxidation of Fatty Acids

The Biochemistry of Movement > 9.7.7. Glycolysis is the first stage of the decomposition of glucose to release energy > The Role of Oxidation of Fatty Acids >

Discuss the role of oxidation of fatty acids in the inhibition of the pyruvate conversion to acetyl CoA

• The 3-carbon pyruvic acid changes to CO₂and a 2-carbon acetyl group (CH₃CO), which attaches to Coenzyme A, forming acetyl CoA (CH₃COCoA).
• The conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA reduces an NAD⁺molecule, which leads to the release of three ATP in the mitochondrion.
• Depending on the availability of fuels for the muscle cell, fatty acids can be used for energy production—especially by type 1 skeletal muscle cells.
• The breakdown of fatty acids to produce energy results in an increase in the compound acetyl CoA.
  • Upon build-up of acetyl CoA, pyruvic acid is no longer converted to acetyl CoA in glycolysis.
  • Conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA stops until all of the remaining acetyl CoA is used.