1. Β oxidation: Fatty acid metabolism
Remember that NADH yields 3 ATP via the electron transport chain. Also remember that FADH2
yields 2 ATP via the electron transport chain. These two values are used to come up with a
value for how much ATP is made via beta oxidation and the TCA cycle.
Palmitic acid. 16 carbon molecule:
First recognize that each fatty acid must be prepared for the beta oxidation process by using 2
ATP to bind it to coenzyme A.
Now, draw the molecule out in two carbon increments.
1 Betaoxidationprocess:

2. Now count up how many times the molecule undergoes beta oxidation and how many acetyl
coa molecules are formed.
Count up the number of beta oxidation processes: 7
Count up the number of acetyl coa molecules made: 8
Recall that beta oxidation yields 5 ATP
Recall that acetyl coa through the citric acid cycle yields 12 ATP.
Now do some math:
We prepared the molecule for beta
oxidation which cost 2 ATP:
-------------------------------------------------------
There were 7 beta oxidation
processes which yield 5 ATP in each
process:
----------------------------------------------------------
8 Acetyl-CoA molecules were formed
which yield 12 ATP in the TCA cycle:
Cost 2 ATP to prepare fattyacid = -2 ATP
-----------------------
5 ATP* (7 Beta oxidationprocesses) = 35 ATP
-----------------------
12 ATP * (8 Acetyl-CoAmoleculesthroughTCA cycle) =96 ATP
Total ATP from palmiticacid = 129 ATP