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):

Explanation of the correct option:

1. Beta oxidation/fatty acid oxidation, is the catabolic process by which fatty acids are degraded to acetyl CoA.
   
2. The release of electron carriers FADH2 (reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide) and NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) along with water occurs in the process.
   
3. The acetyl CoA generated is used in the citric acid cycle, whereas the FADH2 and NADH molecules are used in the electron transport chain.
   
4. Beta oxidation occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and peroxisomes of plants, and the cytosol of the prokaryotes.
   
5. Beta oxidation is called so as the breaking of the fatty acid happens between the alpha and beta carbon.​

Explanation of the incorrect options:

Option (A):

1. Conversion of proteins to amino acids takes place by a process called proteolysis.
2. It specifically occurs in the presence of proteolytic enzymes during protein digestion.

Option (B):

1. The conversion of starch to glucose takes place in the presence of glycolytic enzymes like maltase, sucrase.

Option (C):

1. Fatty acid synthesis takes place in the cytoplasm and it is called liposynthesis.
   

Final Answer: The main objective of beta-oxidation is it degrades fatty acids to acetyl CoA.