P-Oxidation of fatty acids

The central role of the mitochondrion is immediately apparent, since it acts as the focus of carbohydrate, hpid, and amino acid metabohsm. It contains the enzymes of the citric acid cycle, P-oxidation of fatty acids, and ketogenesis, as well as the respiratory chain and ATP synthase. 

The onward metabohsm of succinate, leading to the regeneration of oxaloacetate, is the same sequence of chemical reactions as occurs in the P-oxidation of fatty acids dehydrogenation to form a carbon-carbon double bond, addition of water to form a hydroxyl group, and a hirther dehydrogenation to yield the oxo- group of oxaloacetate. 

The mechanisms of the metabolism and excretion of P-carotene are not clear, other than the identification of a number of partially oxidised intermediates found in plasma (Khachik et al., 1992). It is assumed that the carotenoids are metabolised in a manner analogous to the P-oxidation of fatty acids although there is no evidence for this. 

In addition to the classical p oxidation of fatty acids, known to occur in all tissues, significant a oxidation,... 

Ketogenesis (Figure 6.19) occurs in the liver at most times but is greatly accelerated when acetyl-CoA production from p-oxidation of fatty acids exceeds the capacity of the TCA cycle to form citrate, that is during periods of starvation or in diabetics who have... 

Glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis P-oxidation of fatty acids transamination and deamination of amino acids Cori cycle and glucose-alanine cycle, which recycles substrates between muscle and liver. 

P-oxidation of fatty acids All tissues except RBC, especially important in muscle Mitochondria 7.5... 

Perhaps the most important example of the reverse Claisen reaction in biochemistry is that involved in the P-oxidation of fatty acids, used to optimize energy release from storage fats, or fats ingested as food (see Section 15.4). In common with most biochemical sequences, thioesters rather than oxygen esters are utilized (see Box 10.8). 

The acetyl-CoA that supplies the cycle with acetyl residues is mainly derived from p-oxidation of fatty acids (see p. 164) and from the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction. Both of these processes take place in the mitochondrial matrix. 

Mitochondria are also described as being the cell s biochemical powerhouse, since—through oxidative phosphorylation (see p. 112)—they produce the majority of cellular ATP. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), the tricarboxylic acid cycle, p-oxidation of fatty acids, and parts of the urea cycle are located in the matrix. The respiratory chain, ATP synthesis, and enzymes involved in heme biosynthesis (see p. 192) are associated with the inner membrane. 

Enoyl-CoA hydratase. A specific example of the reaction in Eq. 13-6 is the addition of water to fra s-a,P-unsaturated CoA derivatives (Eq. 13-7). It is catalyzed by enoyl-CoA hydratase (crotonase) from mitochondria and is a step in the P oxidation of fatty acids (Fig. 10-4). 

While CoA was discovered as the "acetylation coenzyme," it has a far more general function. It is required, in the form of acetyl-CoA, to catalyze the synthesis of citrate in the citric acid cycle. It is essential to the P oxidation of fatty acids and carries propionyl and other acyl groups in a great variety of other metabolic reactions. About 4% of all known enzymes require CoA or one of its esters as a substrate.4... 

Mitochondrial P oxidation of fatty acids is the principal source of energy for the heart. Consequently, inherited defects of fatty acid oxidation or of carnitine-assisted transport often appear as serious heart disease (inherited cardiomyopathy). These may involve heart failure, pulmonary edema, or sudden infant death. 

Figure 20-4. Biochemical pathways for gluconeogenesis in the liver. Alanine, a major gluconeogenic substrate, is used to synthesize oxaloacetate. The carbon skeletons of glutamine and other glucogenic amino acids feed into the TCA cycle as a-ketoglutarate, succinyl-CoA, fumarate, or oxaloacetate and thus also provide oxaloacetate. Conversion of oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate and ultimately to glucose limits the availability of oxaloacetate for citrate synthesis and thus greatly diminishes flux through the initial steps of the TCA cycle (dashed lines). Concurrent P-oxidation of fatty acids provides reducing equivalents (NADH and FADH2) for oxidative phosphorylation but results in accumulation of acetyl-CoA.

Carnitine deficiency complicates HMG-CoA lyase deficiency and other inborn errors of metabolism, which results in organic acidemia. L-Camitine or P-hydroxy-y-trimethylammonium butyrate is a carrier molecule that transports long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane for subsequent P-oxi-dation. L-Carnitine also facilitates removal of toxic metabolic intermediates or xenobiotics via urinary excretion of their acyl carnitine derivatives. Indeed, individuals with HMG-CoA lyase deficiency have been shown to excrete 3-methylgluatarylcamitine (Roe et al., 1986). In the absence of ketogenesis, the formation of the acyl carnitine derivative of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate from HMG-CoA also serves to regenerate free CoA in the mitochondria and permits continued P-oxidation of fatty acids. 

Figure 23-2. Metabolism in the fed state. An adequate supply of carbohydrate provides glucose to replenish glycogen stores. Dietary protein provides amino acids for protein synthesis. Dietary carbohydrates, fats, and proteins can all be metabolized to generate ATP. (For clarity, ATP generation during P-oxidation of fatty acids and substrate-level phosphorylation during glycolysis is not depicted.) Excess dietary carbohydrates and amino acids are converted to fatty acids and, along with excess dietary fatty acids, stored as triacylglycerols. DHAP, dihydroxyacetone phosphate.

Hydroxyacid esters are contained in several subtropical fruits like pineapple (26), passion fruit (27) and mango (2 ). 3-Hydroxyacid derivatives are formed as intermediates during de novo synthesis and P -oxidation of fatty acids, but the two pathways lead to opposite enantiomers. S-(+)-3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA-esters result from stereospecific hydration of 2,3-trans-enoyl-CoA during P -oxidation R-(-)-3-hydroxyacid derivatives are formed by reduction of 3-ketoacyl-S-ACP in the course of fatty biosynthesis. Both pathways may be operative in the production of chiral 3-hydroxyacids and 3-hydroxyacid esters in tropical fruits. 

The distribution of metabolic functions within acinar zones is determined principally by the microenvironment of the hepatocytes. Cells in zone 1 are the first to respond to changes in the portal blood, such as glucose and insulin levels, and therefore play important roles in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Protein synthesis, P-oxidation of fatty acids, cholesterol synthesis and bile acid secretion also predominate in zone 1. Ordinarily zone 3 hepatocytes are the principal site of cytochrome P450 oxidation/reduction activity as well as NADPH and NADH reductase metabolism, making this region more susceptible... 

Acetyl CoA. The major sources of this activated two-carbon unit are the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and the P-oxidation of fatty acids (see Figure 30.11). Acetyl CoA is also derived from ketogenic amino acids. The fate of acetyl CoA, in contrast with that of many molecules in metabolism, is quite restricted. The acetyl unit can be completely oxidized to CO2 by the citric acid cycle. Alternatively, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA can be formed from three molecules of acetyl CoA. This six-carbon unit is a precursor of cholesterol and of ketone bodies, which are transport forms of acetyl units released from the liver for use by some peripheral tissues. A third major fate of acetyl CoA is its export to the cytosol in the form of citrate for the synthesis of fatty acids. 

Mitochondria 39% 18-22% 1,700-2,200 Protein secretion, haem synthesis, transport and degradation functions, cellular energy generation (ATP), oxidative phosphorylation, urea synthesis, gluconeogenesis, liponeogenesis, ketogenesis, p-oxidation of fatty acids, citric acid cycle, respiratory chain, etc. 

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