Question

How many molecules of acetyl-CoA are obtained from the b-oxidation of one molecule of a 16-carbon saturated fatty acyl-CoA?

Short answer

The eight molecules of acetyl-CoA are obtained from the $\beta$-oxidation of one molecule of a 16-carbon saturated fatty acyl-CoA.

Step-by-step solution

β- Oxidation

In $\beta$-oxidation,four enzyme-catalyzed reactions are repeated until the entire fatty acyl-CoA molecule has been converted to acetyl-CoA molecules. The enzymes that catalyze the reactions are 1. acyl-CoA dehydrogenase; 2. enoyl-CoA hydratase; 3. 3-l-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase; and 4. $\beta$-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase

Reaction of conversion of 16-carbon saturated fatty acyl-CoA

The reaction of $\beta$oxidation is completed in four steps, and in each step, two carbon atoms are reduced. Finally, eight carbon are reduced, and eight carbon remains.