Fatty acids enter the citric acid cycle after being converted into acetyl CoA through a process called beta-oxidation.
Beta-Oxidation and Acetyl CoA
The process of beta-oxidation is how cells break down fatty acids. This occurs in the mitochondria.
- Process: Fatty acid tails are systematically broken down into two-carbon units.
- Product: Each two-carbon unit then combines with coenzyme A to form acetyl CoA.
- Entry Point: This acetyl CoA is the direct fuel that enters the citric acid cycle.
In essence, beta-oxidation prepares fatty acids for the citric acid cycle by converting them into a usable form: acetyl CoA. The reference explains that "In beta-oxidation, the fatty acid tails are broken down into a series of two-carbon units that combine with coenzyme A, forming acetyl CoA. This acetyl CoA feeds smoothly into the citric acid cycle."
