Question

Activated fatty acids then enter into the β-oxidation pathway where fatty acids are broken down into AcetylCoA molecules.

(a) Lauric acid has 12 carbons. How many acetyl CoA molecules will be produced from 1 molecule of lauric acid?

(b) What other (and how many?) energy storage molecules (NADH, etc.) are produced along with the Acetyl CoA molecules during β-oxidation of lauric acid?

(c) Assuming the theoretical P:O ratio present in mammalian mitochondria, how many ATP would be produced from the β-oxidation of lauric acid? Show ALL of your work explaining how each of the products from β-oxidation lead to ATP.