The most important biological function of carnitine acyltransferases is the transport of fatty acids for β-oxidation.Fatty acids are oxidized for energy production in the mitochondrial matrix by a process called β- oxidation. The major site of fatty acid accumulation, however, is the cytoplasm of the cells.
People also ask, what is the role of carnitine?
[The role of carnitine in human lipid metabolism]. Carnitine is an important nutrient that is present in diet (particularly in meat and dairy products) and is synthesized from amino acids. Carnitine has two principal functions in the organism. One is to transport long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrion.
How ketones are formed?
Ketone bodies are three water-soluble molecules (acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and their spontaneous breakdown product, acetone) containing the ketone group that are produced by the liver from fatty acids during periods of low food intake (fasting), carbohydrate restrictive diets, starvation, prolonged intense
Where are fatty acids broken down?
Fatty acids are broken down to acetyl-CoA by means of beta oxidation inside the mitochondria, whereas fatty acids are synthesized from acetyl-CoA outside the mitochondria, in the cytosol. The two pathways are distinct, not only in where they occur, but also in the reactions that occur, and the substrates that are used.
Why are fatty acids important?
The body can synthesize most of the fats it needs from the diet. However, two essential fatty acids, linoleic and alpha-linolenic, cannot be synthesized in the body and must be obtained from food. These basic fats, found in plant foods, are used to build specialized fats called omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.