How many ATP molecules are formed from the complete oxidation of lauric acid,CH₃(CH₂)₁₀COOH?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lauric acid is a 12-carbon saturated fatty acid. Its complete oxidation involves beta-oxidation, which breaks it down into acetyl-CoA units, followed by the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. For each 2-carbon unit (acetyl-CoA), 12 ATP molecules are generated (10 from the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, and 2 from the conversion of FADH2 and NADH produced during beta-oxidation). Since lauric acid has 6 such units, it produces 72 ATP from these. Additionally, beta-oxidation of lauric acid yields 5 FADH2 and 5 NADH before the citric acid cycle, contributing an extra 22.5 ATP (1.5 ATP per FADH2 and 2.5 ATP per NADH). Therefore, the total ATP yield is 72 + 22.5 = 94.5, which rounds to 95 ATP molecules.

How Many ATP Molecules Are Formed from the Complete Oxidation