Fatty acid metabolism
Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acid metabolism involves the synthesis and degradation of fatty acids and their derivatives.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈfæti ˈæsɪd mɪˈtæbəlɪzəm/
Etymology
The term "fatty acid metabolism" is derived from the words "fatty acid", which refers to a carboxylic acid with a long aliphatic chain, and "metabolism", which refers to the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.
Overview
Fatty acids are a key energy source and also play important roles in signal transduction and lipid raft formation. The breakdown of fatty acids, or beta-oxidation, occurs in the mitochondria, while fatty acid synthesis takes place in the cytoplasm and is regulated by the enzyme fatty acid synthase.
Fatty Acid Synthesis
Fatty acid synthesis is the creation of fatty acids from acetyl-CoA and NADPH through the action of enzymes. The most important of these enzymes is fatty acid synthase. This process takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell.
Beta-Oxidation
Beta-oxidation is the catabolic process by which fatty acid molecules are broken down in the mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle, and NADH and FADH2, which are co-enzymes used in the electron transport chain.
Regulation
The regulation of fatty acid metabolism involves hormonal control, with insulin promoting fatty acid synthesis and glucagon and epinephrine promoting beta-oxidation.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fatty acid metabolism
- Wikipedia's article - Fatty acid metabolism
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