Learning Strategies in Biochemistry:

Catabolism of Fatty Acids

Revised 2008/05/22

Essential Review:

From organic chemistry, review these concepts:

• Hydrolysis of esters
• Claisin condensation

Essential Memory Work: Beta-Oxidation of Fatty Acids

Using the beta-oxidation pathway chart in your text as a starting point, memorize the following:

• Complete structures and names of all intermediates from fatty acid to acetyl-CoA, including their stereochemistry if they are chiral.
• Names of all enzymes.
• Points of use or production of all cofactors (NAD, FAD, CoA, and so forth).

Quiz (Beginning of First Class on Fatty Acid Catabolism)

1) Instructor will provide the structure of a saturated, even-carbon fatty acyl coenzyme A. Write out the pathway for one round of beta oxidation, including names and full structures of all intermediates, names of enzymes, and points of involvement of NAD, FAD, and coenzyme A.

2) How many rounds of beta oxidation are required to convert the original fatty acy-CoA completely to acetyl-CoA?

3) How many moles of acetyl-CoA are produced from each mole of the original fatty acid?

Pathway Information Provided on Exams

Memorizing pathways is primarily an aid to learning more about them. Questions on exams will be on a higher level than mere memory work. On exams that cover topics in metabolism, your instructor will provide pathways charts of any pathways you need in order to answer exam questions. So there is no need to come to exams prepared to regurgitate pathways. Instead, come prepared to use your experience with pathways -- gained by memory work, reading, and problem solving -- to answer questions, interpret data, and solve problems about them.

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