Question

What is the main objective of beta oxidation process?

• A. Converts proteins to amino acids
• B. Breaks starch into glucose
• C. It produces fatty acids
• D. Degrades fatty acids to acetyl CoA

Answer 1

The correct option is D Degrades fatty acids to acetyl CoA

Beta oxidation/fatty acid oxidation, is the catabolic process by which fatty acids are degraded to acetyl CoA, along with the release of electron carriers ${\mathrm{FADH}}_2$ (reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide) and NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) along with water. The acetyl CoA generated is used in the citric acid cycle. Whereas the ${\mathrm{FADH}}_2$ and NADH molecules are used in the electron transport chain. Beta oxidation occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and peroxisomes of plants, and the cytosol of the prokaryotes. Beta oxidation is called so as the breaking of the fatty acid happens between the alpha and beta carbon.

Conversion of proteins to amino acids takes place by a process called proteolysis.

The conversion of starch to glucose takes place in the leaves in plants.

Fatty acid synthesis takes place in the cytoplasm.