Question

The number of molecules of ATP produced in
the lipid metabolism of a molecule of palmitic
acid is
(a) 130 (b) 36
(c) 56 (d) 86

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) 131

Oxidation of 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. Considering an average production of 3 ATP/NADH and 2 ATP/FADH2 using the respiratory chain, you have 131 ATP molecules.