Ho to calculate the ATP of a 12-Carbon fatty acid, beta oxidation

Let's begin with the fatty acid.

Activation phase: -2 ATP
Acetyl groups: 14/2 = 7
Number of cycles: (14/2) - 1 = 6

*Assume 1 FADH2 makes 2 ATP and 1 NADH makes 3 ATP

7 acetyl groups * 12 ATP's per acetyl = 84 ATP
6 FADH2's formed * 2 ATP per FADH2 = 12 ATP
6 NADH's formed * 3 ATP per NADH = 18 ATP
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114 ATP
- 2 (from the initial activation)
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112 ATP's formed from the fatty acid.


The complete oxidation of one molecule of glucose results in the production of the equivalent of 38 molecules of ATP.



Multiply 38 by 2, get get 76 ATP for two molecules of glucose.