BRAINCAKERespiration of Lipids
Lipids are respired when carbohydrate is in short supply. First, triglycerides are hydrolysed by lipase into glycerol and three fatty acids. These two products are respired by different routes.
Glycerol is phosphorylated (using ATP) and converted into triose phosphate (TP). TP is an intermediate of glycolysis, so glycerol enters glycolysis and is respired in the same way as glucose, through pyruvate, the link reaction and the Krebs cycle.
Fatty acids are moved into the mitochondrial matrix, where they are broken down by β-oxidation. The fatty acid is first combined with coenzyme A (using ATP). The chain is then broken into 2-carbon fragments, each of which forms acetyl CoA. Each round of β-oxidation also produces one reduced NAD and one reduced FAD.
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
Key terms in this lesson
- acetyl coenzyme a
- A 2-carbon compound formed from acetate and coenzyme A that enters the Krebs cycle to be oxidised for ATP production.
More in Respiration
- Anaerobic Respiration - Plants and Microorganisms.
- Anaerobic Respiration - Mammals
- Respiratory Substrates
- Energy Values of Carbohydrates, Lipids and Proteins
- Respiration of Proteins
- Respiratory Quotient
- Calculating RQ
- Measuring RQ with a Respirometer
All 19 lessons in Respiration · All OCR A-level Biology topics