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What are the differences between fatty acid synthesis and beta-oxidation?
Posted November 3, 2022
Answer
| Basis of differentiation | Fatty acid synthesis | Beta-oxidation |
| Definition | Is the creation of fatty acids from the precursor molecule acetyl-CoA and NADPH molecules through a series of anabolic reactions by enzymes. | Is the process of breaking down fatty acid molecules into acetyl-CoA and NADH through a series of catabolic reactions by enzymes. |
| Type of reaction | Is an anabolic reaction | Is a catabolic reaction |
| Enzymes involved | Is catalyzed by the enzyme fatty acid synthase, which is a multi-enzyme complex | Is catalyzed by different enzymes at different stages of the oxidation process |
| Occurrence | Occurs in the cytoplasm of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes | Occurs in the cytoplasm of prokaryotes and in mitochondria of eukaryotes |
| ATP Production | Does not produce ATP | Produces high-energy molecule ATP |
| Initiation of the process | Initiates with ACP (acyl group carrier) | Initiates with coenzyme A (CoA) |
| Reductant used | Uses NADPH as the reductant | Uses NADH and FADH as the reductants. |
| Relationship with Energy | Uses up energy | Releases energy |
Additional resources
Fatty acid oxidation: An emerging facet of metabolic transformation in cancer