Question

Metabolism of one palmitic acid yields

• A. 36 ATP
• B. 56 ATP
• C. 129 ATP
• D. 48 ATP

Answer 1

The correct option is C 129 ATP

Oxidation of palmitic acid yields 7 NADH + 7 FADH2 + 8 acetyl-CoA in 7 cycles of mitochondrial beta-oxidation. Every acetyl-CoA yields 3 NADH + 1 FADH2 + 1 GTP (=ATP) during Krebs cycle. An average production of 3 ATP/NADH and 2 ATP/FADH2 using the respiratory chain, We get 131 ATP molecules. However, you have to use 2 ATP molecules for the initial activation of every fatty acid that is going to be oxidized in the mitochondria.

So the correct option is '129 ATP'.