• Explain The Difference Between Alpha And Beta-Oxidation
Fatty acids (FAs) can ultimately be degraded through different pathways which include alpha, beta, and omega-oxidation. Alpha-oxidation occurs at carbon 2 of the chain, b-oxidation at C3, and omega-oxidation at methyl end of the fatty acid. The location of each mechanism also differs as alpha- oxidation occurs in peroxisomes only, beta-oxidation can take place in both peroxisomes and mitochondria. Omega-oxidation occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum of the various tissues. The importance of the differentiation leads to the findings of large number of genetically disorders where either alpha or beta-oxidation are deficient either due to a enzyme or transporter defect. This can result in different neurological problems. Treatment is often limited with diet being one of the options restricting dairy and meat products.
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The enzyme used NADPH and oxygen which is incorporated it into the fatty acid (Figure 1) . This leaves NADP+ and water as byproducts and the methyl group converted to a hydroxyl group or alcohol as the product. The alcohol is then oxidized by a dehydrogenase into an aldehyde which is oxidized into dicarboxylic acids. The dicarboxylic acids form CoA, go through beta-oxidation, and produce adipic and succinic acids which can be excreted in the
The enzyme used NADPH and oxygen which is incorporated it into the fatty acid (Figure 1) . This leaves NADP+ and water as byproducts and the methyl group converted to a hydroxyl group or alcohol as the product. The alcohol is then oxidized by a dehydrogenase into an aldehyde which is oxidized into dicarboxylic acids. The dicarboxylic acids form CoA, go through beta-oxidation, and produce adipic and succinic acids which can be excreted in the